The Sunshine & Lollipops Gang - How a one-time WAG joined a gang of Dubai money mules

Jo-Emma Larvin used to date Joe Calzaghe, the longest-reigning super-middleweight world champion in boxing history.

But by the time of the pandemic, her life had moved on. She was living up in Yorkshire, when she was recruited for an easy-money gig. Would she like to take eight suitcases full of cash to Dubai? The pay was good: £3000 per trip. And she'd be but up in the best hotel in town: the Palm Jumeirah. In her luggage was over a million quid.

Jo-Emma was hardly the only one to say 'yes'. Lead by a housewife from Leeds who co-ordinated her mules from a WhatsApp group called 'Sunshine and Lollipops', Larvin was one of at least six mules who'd run the route, collectively trafficking over £100 million of British drug money into the emirate.

In March of 2023, she and four fellow-accused stood in the dock of Isleworth, fighting for their freedom - the most TOWIE-flavoured group that Crown Court had seen in a long time.

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This is a crime show, straight from the mouths of those who sit in the backs of The Old Bailey's 19 courts all day, every day. The Court News UK team: the scribes of the last news agency to operate full-time from London's world famous Central Criminal Court.

Each episode investigates a recent case covered by Court News UK. From big ticket fraud to gangland murder to the surreal story of "a transgender male who had sexual relationships with three woman by using an Ann Summers device in the dark".

Season One covers five cases to have concluded in 2023. Starting with Anthony Constantinou: "The Wolf of Bond Street".

Thirty-three year old Constantinou filched millions in a Ponzi scheme that operated out of a posh office block in the heart of the City of London, as plain as day.

There's also the story of Frank Partridge, the crooked cop who became notorious as the stripper-loving party-boy 'Sheriff of Soho'. And a bunch of money mules in Manolo Blahnik, who brought the full TOWIE spirit to the international cash laundering trade.

Presented by Gavin Haynes.

• No. of episodes: 12
• Latest episode: 2024-04-17
• True Crime News News Commentary

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