A Swaffham man has been jailed for 16 months after admitting his part in a £10,000 money laundering scam driven by drug use. Gavin Barr, 41, of Regal Close, was involved in a scheme which saw forgeries of cheques paid into his Lloyds TSB bank account at various branches in London, Norwich Crown Court heard yesterday.

A Swaffham man has been jailed for 16 months after admitting his part in a £10,000 money laundering scam driven by drug use.

Gavin Barr, 41, of Regal Close, was involved in a scheme which saw forgeries of cheques paid into his Lloyds TSB bank account at various branches in London, Norwich Crown Court heard yesterday.

Seven cheques adding up to £10,000 were paid in and then about £3,000 was withdrawn via cash machines before being converted into foreign currency at Post Office branches.

Barr admitted using criminal property for money laundering between May 9 and 19 last year.

Yesterday, he also asked for five other offences to be taken into consideration, including two offences of making off without payment, a burglary, an attempted burglary and a burglary at Francis Wain's jewellers in Dereham when £8,500 of watches were taken.

Mitigating, Ian James said Barr had been a “patsy” to two other men who had evaded capture.

Nick Methold, for the prosecution, said Barr had met two men with some “dirty money” and was cleaning it for them but was caught when he went to get out the last £800 from his account.

Sentencing Judge Simon Barham told Barr: “You were taken advantage of. I am aware that drugs are the driving force behind you committing these offences.”