Son-in-law of the ‘fifth Beatle’ to repay £900k of drug profits

Family shame: convicted drug dealer Max Free. Right, his wife’s father Neil Aspinall, pictured with the Beatles in their heyday

A drug dealer who was the son-in-law of the “fifth Beatle” Neil Aspinall has been ordered to repay nearly £1 million in ill-gotten gains after an inquiry revealed he owned a string of properties and a portfolio of shares.

Max Free, 43, admitted possessing 4kg of cannabis worth £3,000 with intent to supply in 2010 and was given a 12-month suspended sentence — but suspicions surrounding his financial dealings led police to launch a two-year inquiry into his assets.

Detectives uncovered payments into six bank accounts totalling more than £1.6 million over a six-year period which they suspected of being linked to crime. Police were also suspicious that Free, who was unemployed, paid large sums of money ranging from £20,000 and £80,000 to individuals with links to drug trafficking.

Officers identified assets including a house and three flats in south-west London, almost £14,000 cash in six bank accounts, a stocks and shares portfolio worth £100,000 and an £18,000 ISA.

Free was issued with a confiscation order of £905,596 at Southwark crown court under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. A judge ordered him to pay £478,914 within six months or face a further 42-month sentence.

Free, of Hampton Wick, claimed in court the large payments were the result of property deals.

He also cited his connection to Neil Aspinall as part of his explanation for the large sums of cash. Mr Aspinall ran The Beatles’ business empire for 40 years until he died in New York in 2008, aged 66. He left nearly £7 million to Suzy, his wife of 40 years, and his five children. There are no implications that any of Mr Aspinall’s family was involved in any wrong-doing.

Free is married to Amanda Fenton, one of Mr Aspinall’s five children. A family member at Free’s home in Hampton Wick confirmed he was Mr Aspinall’s son-in-law.

The court order followed an inquiry by the Met’s National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit. Police say suspicions of a terror link involving money laundering allegations first sparked the inquiry. Detective Superintendent Terri Nicholson said: “Max Free is paying a heavy price for his drug dealing and this case sends a strong message that crime really does not pay. By working hard to present this evidence to the court, we have ensured that he will not continue to enjoy the vast sums of money made from his crimes.”

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