AN EDEN Valley woman has admitted handling more than £40,000 of a drug dealer’s illicit profits.

Lynsey Horne, 37, allowed the cash to be put into her bank accounts and even deposited some of the illicit cash herself, a judge was told.

It was all the proceeds of drug dealing by Penrith man Paul Nicholson.

Both admitted their guilt to drugs related offences during a hearing before Carlisle Crown Court.

Nicholson, 29, of Castle Street, Penrith, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of the class A drug, cocaine, during March and a second count of being concerned in the supply of the Class B drug known as Mcat, or mephedrone, during the same period.

Horne, from Bolton, near Appleby, admitted two of offences converting criminal property - one involving £24,300 which was deposited into a Cooperative bank account; and a second sum of £16,700, also paid into a Cooperative bank account.

Prosecutor Jeremy Grout-Smith said that Nicholson told police that the most cocaine he ever bought was one kilo - which he both sold and used. That claim contained “an element of bragging”, said the barrister.

The court heard that Nicholson’s cocaine supply was thought to be “marginal” compared to his dealing in Mcat. He claimed he was a “street dealer” in cocaine.

Turning to the offences admitted by Horne, the court heard that there was still some dispute over the basis upon which she had admitted her guilt.

Mr Grout-Smith suggested she was guilty in four areas: permitting her home to be used for drug dealing; allowing her bank account to be used for laundering the money made from dealing drugs; dealing drugs herself; and banking some of that cash herself.

Asked in court if she accepted those claims, she denied dealing drugs herself and disputed allowing her home to be used for dealing.

Commenting on the case, Judge Nicholas Barker said that Horne had benefitted overall from Nicholson’s drug dealing at a time when he was making “substantial” amounts of profit from his illicit operation.

“The crown says she profited by her association with Paul Nicholson, and facilitating the activity knowing full well this was the proceeds of drug dealing,” said the judge.

Judge Barker noted Horne was a woman with a limited previous conviction. Nicholson was involved in “extensive drug dealing” featuring a large amount of Mcat, and drugs worth £40,000, observed the judge.

When stopped by police in September, Nicholson was carrying £12,000 worth of Mcat.

Judge Barker adjourned sentencing until July 30, saying he wanted a background report on Horne and a written basis of her pleas.