A WOMAN who was used to launder the money of her drug dealing partner has narrowly avoided prison.

Lisa Burns handled bundles of dirty money over a five year period before she was eventually brought to justice.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 46-year-old had looked after a total of £113,000 on behalf of former partner Simon Thirlwall.

The one-time crime boss is currently serving a long prison sentence for drug dealing and made almost £300,000 from his illegal activities.

His drugs empire came crashing down when he was stopped in a black Mercedes on Redcar Road, Dunsdale, east Cleveland, with a £50 bag of cocaine in January 2019.

The defendant was in the passenger seat of the car when it was stopped.

The police stop led to a search of his Guisborough home, where officers found £91,800 cash, mostly stashed away inside a rucksack.

He was jailed for six years and eight months at Teesside Crown Court in May of that year.

His former partner appeared before the same court charged with possessing criminal property. The offence happened between August 1, 2014, and January 7, 2019, in Guisborough.

The court heard how she used or had possession of criminal property, namely cash and cash deposits, to the value of £113,036.54.

Peter Makepeace, prosecuting, said she had previous convictions for possession of a prohibited weapon and handling stolen goods but this was her first drug related appearance in court.

He said: "A search of her home address revealed a large quantity of cash, some found under the floorboards, some in a rucksack, some in a shoe box and some loose cash in the bedroom, living room and kitchen.

"A number of mobile phones and Sim cards were also recovered from the premises, along with a quantity of drugs, three sets of scales, a diary, computer, grip seal bags, a ball bearing gun, a gold Rolex watch and some other materials relevant to dealing in drugs."

Mr Makepeace said a number of text messages showed the defendant was aware of where the money was coming from – her partner's drug dealing enterprise.

He said the the couple's relationship was starting to breakdown but text messages made it clear she was aware that illicit cash was hidden in her home.

Andrew Turton, in mitigation, said his client was coerced into handling the drug money by her former partner, adding she was 'working under direction' and 'working under pressure' throughout that period.

Judge Recorder Andrew Dallas sentenced Burns to 18 months in custody, suspended for two years.

He said: "If I thought you were simply a loyal, loving assistant who went about enthusiastically supporting his activities in order to enjoy the fruits of it and it was as simple as that, as I say, you would be going away for a long time in prison.

"As it was, it was bad enough, there was lots of money involved over a long period of time and you are lucky you have not been additionally charged with drug offences."