The partner of a man jailed for his part in supplying at least 30 kilos of cocaine will not go to jail, despite being transferred more than £10,000 of drugs money.
Pasquelino Mazzuca, 53, and Alexander Hepworth, 33, were jailed for a combined 27 years and 11 months this month, after they confessed to delivering large amounts of class A drugs and cash across the country between April 2018 and October 2019.
Minshull Street Crown Court heard Michelle Hart, of Holden Avenue, Ramsbottom, 'turned a blind eye' to the crimes being committed by her partner, Mazzuca, Manchester Evening News reported.
According to prosecution barrister Harriet Lavin Hart told police that Mazzuca was an electrician struggling to find work, had £10,298 of drugs money transferred into her bank account.
The 50-year-old, who worked as a dog walker, also claimed in her interview she had no knowledge of any drug trafficking but Ms Lavin said: "The defendant must have been aware of her partner's offending".
At her first opportunity, Hart pleaded guilty to possession of criminal property.
Defending, Mark Shanks told the court : "Although she knew something was going on, she turned a blind eye and buried her head in the sand."
Mr Shanks said that Hart, who has no previous convictions, was suffering from depression and that she was having regular arguments with Mazzuca at the time of the offending.
He added that Hart's 16-year-old daughter relies on her, especially now that her dad is in prison.
Judge Sophie McKone sentenced Hart to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.
She said: "You must have known in general terms, at least, about his criminal activity.
"He was not struggling for cash as you told police and you knew that. He made regular journeys and as his partner you must've had some idea what he was doing.
"You knew the money was not from legitimate means and yet you went along benefiting from a considerable amount of money coming into your house.
"Drug dealers need people to look after their money and you assisted in that evil trade, even if you didn't know exactly what he was doing."
She added: "I accept your remorse is genuine.
"You do have caring responsibility for your teenage daughter and she has already lost one parent to the prison service."
Hart was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
She will also be subject to a curfew for six months, between 7pm and 6am.
