A 'hard working' man who had £116,000 of criminal cash stashed in his bedroom has a 'problem' after police seized it, a court heard.
Liam Duffy, 24, said he was paid to 'look after' the huge sum by criminals.
"He has a problem now doesn't he, because £116,000 of some pretty unsavoury people's money, has from their point of view, lost because of him," a judge said.
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Duffy, from Salford, was told he needed to show 'candour' about where the money came from before being shown any 'mercy'.
At first, he said he'd been asked to keep it on behalf of people he knew.
He said he'd been paid £50 to carry out the task.
But after the judge, Recorder Paul Taylor said he didn't want to hear 'wishy washy' statements, Duffy revealed he'd actually received £500.
Duffy said the cash had come from drugs or fraud, and he wasn't sure which.
Speaking of Duffy's problem, his barrister Paul Hodgkinson said: "That is something that he will perhaps need to deal with, which is another layer of punishment he will endure."
"You finally showed some candour," Recorder Taylor told Duffy as he spared him jail.
"I am not sure that it was £500, but you have accepted it is a significant sum of money you received."
Minshull Street Crown Court heard that police went to his home in January last year in relation to a separate incident, which officers took no further action against.
During a search, officers found a JD Sports bag which contained £116,270 in £10 and £20 notes.
Mr Hodgkinson said Duffy had the money for a 'few weeks', and he had been given it by people he knew were criminals.
"To be fair to this defendant he is frightened," the barrister said.
"Of course he is frightened of the sentence Your Honour passes, but also, as the person that holds the purse, he is at the bottom of the rung."
Mr Hodgkinson said Duffy is hard working and trusted by his employers, and that he had 'made a mistake' which he is remorseful for.
Prison would 'crush' Duffy, he argued.
Recorder Taylor said he could avoid sending Duffy to jail.
"It is quite rare to see a defendant who is guilty of such a serious crime with references which are so positive," the judge said.
Duffy, of Briar Hill Avenue, Salford, was sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to acquiring criminal property.
He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
