Telford mother spared jail in £53m bank scam

Nina Colley, 32, of Spring Meadow, Sutton Hill, helped launder cash that had been duped out of bank customers using a string of bogus emails.

The gym instructor and mother-of-one was paid just £200 in exchange for receiving £1,300 from the fraudsters.

One of the ringleaders, Samuel Etu, was jailed for eight years last month for organising the plot targeting customers of Barclays, First Direct and Co-Op.

Detectives estimate the potential losses were as high as £53 million – though the scammers only received a total of £300,000.

Colley admitted money laundering but was handed a suspended sentence at Southwark Crown Court.

Judge Anthony Pitts told her: "You have taken part in a limited way in what was a very substantial fraud.

"'It seems you were acting as a mule for others who were money laundering.

"A short custodial sentence is inevitable but I am going to suspend it.

"Although you have a bad record, it just might be the case that you have decided enough is enough and you are going to turn your life around, and get your son back and work as a gym instructor.

"Let's hope that is the case," added Judge Pitts.

Colley was given a four-month sentence, suspended for a year.

She was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Operation Allandale tracked down the money mules after busting the phishing scam, the court was told.

Denise Munn, prosecuting, said: "This defendant is one of those people."

A total of £1,300 was transferred on four occasions into Colley's Barclays accounts in October last year before the funds were then quickly withdrawn.

Karl Masi, defending, said Colley had no knowledge of the overall workings of the fraud and got involved simply to "earn a bit of quick cash".

"She accepts she thought it might be a bit dodgy," he added.

"She has gained qualifications as a personal trainer and wishes to pursue a career in the fitness industry."