A GANGSTER'S moll faces jail after she lived the high life on his ill-gotten gains - while also claiming benefits.

Danielle Bardsley, 29, enjoyed an affluent lifestyle thanks to the generosity of her boyfriend Peter Anderson, an armed robber and career criminal from Salford.

She wore Prada designer clothes and jewellery, went to a private gym and lived behind wrought iron gates in a comfortable semi equipped with the latest mod cons, including a Bang & Olufsen flat screen TV. Bardsley boasted a permanent tan thanks to holidays in Mexico, Florida and Tenerife and had access to a fleet of cars including a Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover Sport and Audi A4.

'Unemployed'
But for nearly ten years the mum-of-two claimed she was unemployed and received £30,000 income support as a 'single mother'. She also claimed free school meals for her two children. Bardsley has now admitted money laundering after she became the first high profile success in a campaign by Greater Manchester Police to tackle families who live on the proceeds of crime.

Robbery
Her luxury lifestyle began to unravel after her partner Anderson led a terrifying bank robbery in Ashton-on-Ribble, near Preston on April 28, 2006. The gang, armed with a sledge hammer and two loaded guns, stole £136,000 during the raid on a branch of the Lloyds TSB. Anderson and his gang were arrested nearby even though one of his henchmen fired a shot at armed cops pursuing them. He was later handed an indeterminate sentence for the public protection and was told he would serve a minimum of six years behind bars before he could apply for parole.

Finances

Police launched an investigation into the finances of Anderson and his family after discovering he also led the high life with designer clothes, holidays to Thailand and a £2,000 Breitling watch. Meanwhile, he also sponged off the state, claiming £14,000 in incapacity benefit since 1999 for 'depression and anxiety'. He said his mum and dad had to care for him at their home in Salford.

Cash

When police raided the house in Abram, near Wigan, where he lived with his family, they found £28,000 in cash hidden on top of a wardrobe and officers started probing the household finances. They discovered Bardsley's mother, Karen Bardsley, 47, of Barrow Street, Salford, siphoned £10,000 of Anderson's criminal earnings through her bank account and enjoyed an all-expenses paid holiday to Cancun in Mexico as a thank you.

Deposit
Anderson's sister, Claire Anderson, 32, of Murray Street, Higher Broughton, who works in an amusement arcade, put down a £16,000 deposit on the Abram house for her brother using his money. Now the three women may join Peter Anderson behind bars. Danielle Bardsley and Peter Anderson pleaded guilty to benefits fraud and money laundering at Manchester Crown Court. Karen Bardsley and Claire Anderson also admitted money laundering. Judge Anthony Gee, adjourning sentence to July 27, released the three women on bail but told them: "All sentencing options will be considered including custody."

Assets
The judge will also consider applications to confiscate their assets. It is understood to be the first time Greater Manchester Police has taken action against the family of a serious criminal. Det Sgt John Mulvihill said: "Doing two or three years behind bars is considered an occupational hazard by a serious criminal like Anderson. They think they'll still have their car and house when they get out.

Message
"That's not the case anymore and this will send out a strong message to criminals and their families that crime doesn't pay. We will be relentless now in our pursuit of lifetime criminals who burnish their families with their ill-gotten gains. We'll endeavour to strip them of their assets and bring them to justice. It won't be just serious and violent criminals in our sights now - we are now after their families and their associates if they have benefited from crime."