Helensburgh Fire Murderer Stripped Of Assets

A man who murdered a father and his two children in a blaze at their family home is to be stripped of criminal profits totalling £8,500.

Scott Snowden was jailed for life and ordered to serve at least 33 years in prison for ordering the fire that killed three members of the Sharkey family.

His henchman, Robert Jennings, was sentenced to a minimum of 29 years behind bars.

Thomas Sharkey, 21, and his eight-year-old sister Bridget died when the flames engulfed their home in Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, on July 24 2011. Their father, Thomas Sharkey Snr, 55, died in hospital six days later.

As part of the investigation into the murders, police identified Snowden as the head of an organised crime gang operating in Helensburgh, which was involved in the supply of cocaine in the Argyll area.

Before being found guilty of murder, Snowden was convicted in October 2012 of involvement in the supply of controlled drugs and sentenced to 19 months behind bars.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, the Crown Office today secured a confiscation order for all of Snowden's current assets, which amount to £8,500.

But the Crown Office said its investigation established that his total criminal profit over the six years prior to his arrest was £119,000.

They have registered that total with the court and said they will be able to pursue Snowden at any point in the future if he comes into further assets, until that total is recovered.

Lindsey Miller, procurator fiscal for organised crime and counter terrorism, said: Scott Snowden was convicted of the cowardly murders of three members of the Sharkey family and will be in prison for more than 30 years.

Through the powers of the Proceeds of Crime Act, we have now also stripped away all of his remaining assets, and if ever he emerges from prison we have ensured that he will face further action to secure repayment of the rest of his criminal profits.''

Funds recovered under proceeds of crime laws are ploughed back into community programmes.