Two women who were allowed to stay at home with their children rather than attend a £10million fraud trial were spared jail yesterday.
NHS nurse Grace Chukwu, 38, and her friend Queen Chukwuka, 32, were found guilty of possessing criminal property after a complex five-month trial that involved eight other defendants and cost the taxpayer millions.
Chukwu built up a shoe collection ‘to rival Imelda Marcos’ on the proceeds of a series of banking swindles, Blackfriars Crown Court heard last month.
Meanwhile, mother-of-four Chukwuka had more than £350,000 in her bank account when she and the other nine defendants, all originally from Nigeria, were arrested.
The pair remained home during the trial after Judge Michael Simon decided they did not need to be inconvenienced by attending because of family commitments.
It is believed to be the first time in UK legal history defendants have been given permission to avoid turning up to a crown court trial for reasons other than health.
The court heard Chukwu was married to businessman Andrew Chukwu, 35, and together they led a ‘lavish lifestyle’ on the proceeds of the swindle, spending £90,000 on private education for their three children.
When arrested at their £860,000 home, Mr Chukwu, claimed he ran a legitimate business with a yearly turn-over of just £16,840
