A MOTHER-OF-ONE who opened up a bank account and helped a fraudster con a woman out of more than £7,000 has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Burnley Crown Court heard that victim Ann Laura Jackson had received a phone call on September 11, 2014, from a “foreign sounding” man claiming to be from Ulster Bank and warning there was a problem with fraud on her account.

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Prosecutor Joseph Allman told the court the 43-year-old victim was told that the only way to keep her money secure was to transfer it into a new account. The court heard that account, which the victim transferred £7,500 into, had been set up by defendant Charlotte Lawson just weeks earlier.

The court was told the police were contacted once Ms Jackson realised she had been scammed.

Officers traced the account back to 23-year-old Lawson, of Hibson Road, Nelson, and during an interview she gave the name of the man who had made the call.

Lawson told police she had known him since she was a teenager and he had promised her £700. She also claimed the alleged fraudster said he needed to use her account to transfer an inheritance from his uncle in Pakistan.

She denied having any initial knowledge of the scam but admitted to being with the man when he was on the phone to Ms Jackson.

Mr Allman said the alleged fraudster was interviewed but released without charge.

Defending, Umar Shahzad said his client, who is eight months pregnant, had shown genuine remorse.

Mr Shahzad said: “She was very naive and she trusted him. She didn’t question him much, which she regrets now. She had known him since the age of 15.

"He assured her the money was from a legitimate source. He even accompanied her to the bank as well to withdraw the money. “

Lawson pleaded guilty to one charge of converting criminal property. She was sentenced to 20 weeks imprisonment, suspended for a year.

Judge Beverley Lunt said: “Of course you knew it was suspect.You didn’t know it was from this lady, there is no evidence of that. You didn’t care. You were prepared to act dishonestly and you did. You put your future at risk for about £700.”