Yorkshire man pleads guilty to cash smuggling attempt

A man from South Yorkshire has admitted trying to smuggle almost £48,000 off the Island in his car.

Sam Kenneth Leigh of Brow Close in Barnsley appeared before magistrates at Douglas Courthouse.

The 31-year-old pleaded guilty to a single count of attempting to remove criminal property at the Sea Terminal in Douglas on September 25.

The court heard police stopped his Volvo C30 as he waited to get on the boat, and officers’ suspicions were aroused when Leigh claimed he was visiting friends but gave them fictitious names.

Under the rear passenger seat, police found £47,970 and they also discovered an empty hidden compartment in the vehicle.

Magistrates committed Leigh to the Court of General Gaol Delivery for sentencing and remanded him in custody until his appearance in the higher court on October 21.