May.11, 2010, 09:20
A STRUGGLING businessman who laundered more than £90,000 for criminals "higher up the chain" has been jailed for 15 months.
Spencer Hannon allowed £45,950 to be transferred through his bank account on August 13, 2008 and £47,000 the next day.
Stoke-one-Trent Crown Court heard several police forces, including Staffordshire, were involved in bringing the offenders to justice.
Prosecutor Paul Spratt said 130 Barclays Bank premier savings accounts were targeted nationally, including 10 in Staffordshire with money totalling £1.3 million.
In this case £450,000 was transferred from two accounts – CNG Contract Natural Gas Limited and CNG Marketing.
Mr Spratt explained some of the cash from CNG went to Shire Plant.
He added: "Shire Plant exists in name only and operated from a house on the outskirts of Newcastle. From the Shire Plant account, £92,000 came through to Mr Hannon. He assisted in its onward transfer."
Hannon made several transfers including £40,000 to a foreign account.
Hannon, aged 33, was arrested and accepted responsibility for the transfers. He told police he met people on a car park and handed over cash as requested. He was paid £3,000.
"He accepted it was criminal property and he laundered it for the benefit of others," said Mr Spratt. "It was national and sustained conduct by those further up the criminal chain. But without the likes of this defendant they could not succeed."
Fraud victims CNG will be recompensed by Barclays Bank.
As well as the two money laundering matters, Hannon, of Ilford, Essex, admitted three fraud charges, a theft and obtaining services by deception in Leicestershire.
Charlotte Kenny, mitigating, said Hannon accepted his guilt.
Judge Robert Trveor-Jones jailed Hannon for nine months for the money laundering offences and six months consecutively for the Leicestershire matters.