Former Dundee United striker freed early from prison but nearly £400k seized.

James Keatings was sentenced for more than a year in September but is now free.

A former Dundee United striker who had been jailed for more than a year for carrying out a £400,000 money laundering transaction was released after only a few weeks in prison.

James Keatings, who had previously played for Celtic, St Johnstone, Raith Rovers, and Forfar, received a 13-and-a-half-month term in mid-September after admitting to possessing and transferring illegal property.

He was scheduled to appear from prison via video connection on Tuesday for a hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The court heard he was released with house detention after spending less than two months.

He was originally scheduled to be released in the new year under existing regulations, which allow criminals receiving short terms to be released after serving 40% of their time. In Keatings’ instance, this should have meant approximately five months.

The mid-November release is believed to have occurred as part of efforts to free up space in Scotland’s overcrowded jails.

His solicitor, Brian Greig, told the hearing at Falkirk Sheriff Court: “In relation to the original indictment, he was sentenced to imprisonment.” “He was released last week, on a home detention curfew.”

Mr Greig said Keatings, of Wishaw, would have attended court in person but was ill with the illness.

The court was told agreement had been reached that the profits of Keatings course of criminal conduct amounted to £390,040 and that also was the available amount for seizure by the Crown.

The sum is the “dirty money” found to have Keatings’ fingerprints and DNA on it before his arrest earlier this year. It is currently held by police.

The court heard the confiscation order would have to be delayed until next year for legal reasons and Sheriff Wyllie Robertson ordered a further hearing on April 21.

Keatings, 33, transported heavy boxes of crime cash in a white Transit van while working as a plasterer.

He was arrested following a tip off to the National Crime Agency about a large criminal cash handover to take place in Wishaw.

Police and NCA officers swooped on June 28 2024 and recovered two office boxes containing 78 bundles of notes, each of about £5000.

Keatings’ finger and palm prints were on boxes and bank notes.

The court heard Keatings had been drawn into crime after a hip injury at the age of 27 left him in chronic pain and his career spiralled downwards until he quit.

He was on prescription painkillers but they were not strong enough and he began illicitly self-medicating.

Tony Graham KC, defending previously, said: “An opportunity arose to be paid in medication for performing a service of moving this sum of money and this he duly did.”

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