THE son-in-law and sister-in-law of disgraced businesswoman Mary Blair were today cleared of helping her to launder money from a North-East garage.
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, of Summerhouse Grove, Darlington, has admitted stealing some £820,000 from her employers PMB Garages and South Cleveland Garages.
Her brother Edward, 48, admits laundering £28,950 and his son Christopher, 25, admits laundering more than £500,000. They will be sentenced later.
Mr Bartlett, a sales manager, who is married to Blair's daughter Claire, said after the verdict: "I feel fantastic. I believed in myself and I'm happy that it has happened the way it should have happened." Ends
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