A GANGSTER's girlfriend transferred thousands of pounds of his criminal cash to Dubai, a court heard.

Annie Webster, from Latchford, repeatedly made money transfers and even flew out to the United Arab Emirates to deposit cash on behalf of her partner Shawn O'Malley – who is currently awaiting sentence for a series of serious offences.

The mum-of-one admitted money laundering and appeared before Bolton Crown Court for sentence today, Tuesday.

Carmel Wilde, defending, said that the 25-year-old had been naive under the influence of O’Malley.

“She perhaps acted with misplaced loyalty to her then partner and family,” she told the court, which heard that their relationship has since ended.

Warrington Guardian:

Andrew Scott, prosecuting, detailed how Operation Longridge – a Greater Manchester Police investigation into serious organised crime – was focused on O'Malley, who left the country for Dubai where Warrington's former most wanted man Leon Cullen had fled.

Cullen was extradited after a two-year manhunt and was sentenced to 22-and-a-half years in jail for drugs and firearm offences last month.

Officers executed a search warrant at Webster's home on Cumberland Street in December 2019, but she was not present.

When questioned in January last year, she claimed she had separated from O'Malley.

"She stated she had split from Shawn O'Malley in November 2019 and had not had any contact or dealings with him since that date," said Mr Scott.

"She told police officers that at the time of the warrant she had been on a solo holiday to Dubai which had nothing to do with Shawn O'Malley."

On March 6 last year, police raided her home again.

She claimed to be unemployed, but officers found several Western Union money transfer receipts in her name, an Emirates flight boarding pass and a receipt from a Dubai legal consultancy.

She had sent a total of £6,066.85 to the United Arab Emirates, including 5,000 UAE dirhams which she had deposited in person into a Dubai bank.

When interviewed by police about the finds, she refused to answer questions.

Mr Scott added: "The crown's case always has been that Miss Webster knew, or suspected the monies, in whole or in part, to be directly or indirectly the proceeds of Shawn O'Malley's criminal conduct."

Webster has no previous convictions, although she did receive a caution for causing actual bodily harm in 2019.

Ms Wilde said that since her arrest, the defendant's mental health had deteriorated to such an extent that she is unable to work.

"She has expressed remorse and regret and shame at being before the court, particularly as she is a mother to a young child," the defence barrister added.

The honorary recorder of Bolton, judge Martin Walsh, handed Webster a two-year community order with a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He told her: "You were in a relationship with Shawn O'Malley, who was heavily involved in serious organised crime and awaits sentence at Liverpool Crown Court.

"I have no doubt that your involvement in this offence was directly a result of your relationship with him.

"You must have known that the monies being transferred to Dubai represented the proceeds of crime.

"That must have been apparent to you because you must have been aware of the nature of the lifestyle of the man with whom you were then in a relationship.

"I am prepared to accept that if you had not got yourself involved in this relationship, you would not have been appearing in a criminal court."