Stolen funds sent to Russia

Kevin Fuller received about £30,000 in his Barclays and Lloyds TSB bank accounts which he then transferred to a company in St Petersburg, Russia, retaining a ten per cent share for himself.

Teesside Crown Court heard unemployed Mr Fuller had been contacted via e-mail by a company who asked him to be a trading partner and to help with the transfer of money in and out of the UK.

About £30,000 pilfered from the bank accounts of three unsuspecting victims was paid into the married 49-year-old's account, which he transferred abroad via Western Union, a money transfer facility.

Tom Storey, prosecuting, said the first victim had £10,600 taken from his Barclays bank account without his knowledge in December.

John Carvell had received an e-mail asking him to confirm the security details for his account, which he returned, believing it to be legitimate correspondence from his bank.

He later discovered money had been taken from his account without his authority.

Another victim, John Hind, had £4,770 stolen from his online Lloyds TSB account and Gillian Waring had about £14,000 transferred from her account over three consecutive days.

It is alleged the defendant then received the stolen money into his account which he transferred to Russia.

The court heard the defendant was arrested trying to withdraw money from a bank in Newcastle.

Mr Storey said: "He agreed he had withdrawn money and he was responsible for sending it to Russia.

"He said he was suspicious initially and thought it was a scam to steal money from him, so he gave them details of two of his bank accounts that were empty. Money was then transferred into his bank account."

Mr Fuller, of Prospect View, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, said he had been told by the company to destroy dockets showing the money transfers via Western Union, but he failed to do it.

The court heard he only communicated with the company via e-mail.

The trial continues.