James Stunt trial: Firm sent more than £50million in gold shipments to Dubai, court hears 

Bernie Ecclestone’s former son-in-law arrived at court today puffing a cigar before he was accused of using a company to launder millions of pounds worth of cash.

Bankrupt former millionaire James Stunt, 40, the ex-husband of F1 heiress Petra Ecclestone, is being tried with seven others for hiding £266m in funds at a gold dealer.

He looked every bit the city slicker as he arrived at Leeds Cloth Hall Court with a cigar smouldering in his jaws.

The court previously heard that ‘anonymous couriers’ had deposited up to £250,000 in bags at the low-key premises of Fowler Oldfield, in Bradford, West Yorks.

But prosecutor Nicholas Clarke KC, claimed that these drivers didn’t get formal paperwork for their deliveries and were instead provided with a ‘£5 note’ as receipts.

Bankrupt former millionaire James Stunt, 40, is being tried with seven others for hiding £266m in funds at a gold dealer

The firm’s accountant Heidi Buckler, 45, yesterday denied Mr Clarke’s suggestion that the vast sums of money was ‘criminal cash derived from criminal conduct’.

And today, she said she had limited knowledge of why Bradford-based Fowler Oldfield had sent hundreds of gold consignments to the Arab state.

Opening proceedings today, Mr Clarke said Fowler Oldfield or another company, Axore Gold, completed 126 documents over an eight-month period for shipping purposes.

He said: ‘Between the 20th January, 2016, and the 8th August 2016, 126 documents in total were completed by either Fowler Oldfield or Axor Gold in respect of the movement of precious metals to or from Dubai.

Mr Clarke said Fowler Oldfield had exported just over £34m in gold before importing close to £17m in return during this period.

He said: ‘Imported, there was £16,867,663.80 and exported there was £34, 840, 263.90, giving us a total of over £50m.’

And speaking to Buckler directly, Mr Clarke said she must have been aware of the huge transaction as she was involved in ‘preparing and assisting’ with the documents.

Stunt is the ex-husband of F1 heiress Petra Ecclestone, who he is pictured with 

He said: ‘You were aware because you were preparing and assisting in the shipping documents from time to time.

But Buckler countered: ‘I produced a couple of documents when requested. But I wouldn’t have known those figures until now.’

Mr Clarke then showed the court several papers which had been labelled with ‘invoice numbers’, but Buckler claimed these papers were in fact shipping documents.

She said she was told to prepare these documents on behalf of the company managers and had been ‘following instructions’ given to her by executives regarding their layout.

Mr Clarke asked: ‘You were just following instructions, that’s your case?

Buckler replied: ‘Yes, I had been asked by David. I followed what was done previously. I’m not sure why it says invoice.

‘It’s a shipping document, and I’m guessing it means the date.’

Accountant Heidi Buckler, 45, denied the prosecution’s suggestion that vast sums of money left at a gold dealer was ‘criminal cash derived from criminal conduct’

Mr Clarke also questioned Buckler on her role at the company, telling the court she must have been able to challenge managers if she felt documents had been mishandled.

He said: ‘You had chartered accountancy training and some experience working with this company.’ 

She replied: ‘I had a small amount of experience working with this company. I started in November 2014, working part-time.’

Buckler also denied any involvement with customers or the physical shipment of gold to Dubai.

She said: ‘I’ve never been to Dubai. I didn’t arrange the pickup of the gold. I did the bookkeeping.’