THE son-in-law and sister-in-law of disgraced businesswoman Mary Blair were yesterday cleared of helping her to launder thousands of pounds from a North-East car dealership.

A jury at Teesside Crown Court took less than two hours to return not guilty verdicts for Graham Bartlett, 37, of Chapelhope Close, Darlington, and Beverley Grimes, 43, of Bousfield Crescent, Newton Aycliffe. Both denied assisting her to obtain the benefit of criminal conduct.

Blair, 54, of Summerhouse Grove, Darlington, has admitted stealing some £820,000 from her employers PMB Garages and South Cleveland Garages over a five-year period.

But last night, former PMB owner John McArdle and South Cleveland Garages managing director Bill Robson, said the true figure was more like £1.3m.

Mr McArdle said banks had been unable to provide evidence for police of all the cheques laundered by Blair.

"There was much more than the sum she has admitted to," said Mr McArdle, a solicitor who runs a practice in Duke Street.

"I gather through storm damage and accidental loss some cheques were not able to be recovered.

"We have not had the full picture. We are talking about a very bad woman here."

Mr Robson said Blair's actions had led to PMB having to go into liquidation, when the company should have thrived. "If the amount of money she stole from us could have been used by ourselves and PMB, then we could have employed a lot more people in Darlington."

PMB cheques were paid into Mr Bartlett and Mrs Grimes' bank accounts between 1997 and 1998, but both insisted they had no idea Blair was acting dishonestly.

Mrs Grimes, a nurse and wife of Blair's brother Edward, believed the five cheques, totalling £28,950, were bonuses paid by PMB to Blair and that they were put through her and her husband's account so less tax would be paid.

She thought the amount the couple kept for themselves, £3,450, was for work Edward had done at Blair's shop in Darlington - Chloe's Bridal Wear, later called Manhattan House.

Three cheques, totalling £17,200, were paid into Mr Bartlett's account. All but £1,700 was paid back to Blair. Mr Bartlett said Blair had paid them in and he had not questioned it.

Judge John Walford told the jury they had to decide whether the defendants were dishonest or unknowingly used by Blair.

Edward Grimes, 48, admits laundering £28,950 and his son Christopher, 25, admits laundering more than £500,000. They will be sentenced later with Blair.

There were emotional scenes outside the courtroom as the acquitted pair hugged family and friends.

Mr Bartlett, a sales manager and former employee of PMB and The Northern Echo, who is married to Blair's daughter Claire, said: "I feel fantastic."

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