A BUILDER who bought a house with cash told a court he had the money because he worked hard and saved a lot.

Police also found thousands of pounds hidden behind a sofa when they searched the home of Abdullah Nurosi.

The 35-year-old was initially linked to a drugs plot through an associate but denied any knowledge of it.

But a judge refused to believe the cash came from legitimate sources and jailed him for money laundering.

Prosecutor Paul Cleasby said: “It was quite clear that the defendant earned a modest income as a builder.

“In no way could he have explained having had £35,000 going through his hands in a six-week period."

Teesside Crown Court heard how Nurosi bought his own family home in Middlesbrough with £35,000 he put into a friend's bank account.

Police investigated his tax records and found the figures did not stack up - but it was never established where the money came from.

An associate of Nurosi was stopped with a large amount of cannabis in a vehicle, but Nurosi - who had the other man's number in his mobile phone - denied any knowledge of the drugs enterprise.

Police officers found £3,780 in a nappies bag hidden down the back of his settee when they searched his home in Aire Street in June 2014.

And it later emerged Nurosi was claiming housing benefit on the home after putting his friend’s name to it.

He initially denied any criminal activity and claimed he worked hard as a builder and it was normal in his community for people to lend money.

He later claimed the cash was undeclared income from his job - but he declined to give evidence about this and a judge rejected his explanation.

Afghanistan-born Nurosi admitted transferring criminal property and was jailed for 13 months.

The judge, Recorder Rachael Harrison, told him: "I do not accept that this was undeclared income.

"It is too large a sum of money to have passed through your accounts even allowing for you being a hard-working man.

"You did not get that amount of money from any legitimate job.

"You provided illegitimate money to help purchase a derelict house. You played an active part in the deception, which was planned."

Robert Mochrie, mitigating, said Nurosi had a troubled upbringing and witnessed “traumatising scenes” before fleeing his home country as a teenager.

He said Nurosi had been in the UK for 18 years, integrated into British society and had indefinite permission.