THREE people were used by scammers to help launder money made from a lucrative revenue fraud, a court was told.

Andrew Wilson, who was said to have had drug debts and, so, given little choice but to take part, was used to transfer £170,764 proceeds of the HMRC telephone scam, and he recruited two others to help filter away some of the money.

Durham Crown Court heard online bank accounts were set up in the names of Wilson, plus co-accused Rachel Mason and Michael Waugh.

Jonathan Harley, prosecuting, said between June and October, 2018, the money was deposited, in Mason’s case a total of £44,286, and with Waugh, £42,585, shortly after the accounts were opened.

Mr Harley said the money ”dissipated” from their accounts within days, to recipients including overseas or domestic retailers, via international money transfer, to a church group or by simple cash withdrawals.

He told the court the funds came from 62 victims of telephone scams in which the caller purported to be from HM Revenue and Customs threatening legal action to elicit the money.

Mr Harley said: “It is not suggested any of the defendants played a part in these calls.”

He said the trio were, “far removed from the origins of the fraud”, but they, “must have known” the money came from illegal activity.

Wilson, 35, of Chatton Close, Chester-le-Street, admitted possessing and transferring criminal property.

Waugh, 45, of Hambledon Avenue, Chester-le-Street, and Mason, 32, of Plawsworth Road, Sacriston, admitted being concerned in the retention of criminal property.

Wilson was given a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, but must attend 30-probation-led rehabilitation activity days and he will also be subject of a nine-month 6pm to 6am home curfew.

Waugh was given a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years with 30 rehabilitation activity days, and a six-month 6pm to 6am home curfew.

Mason was given a two-year community order, including attending 35 rehabilitation days.