A COUPLE who helped launder thousands of pounds worth of drugs money have been spared prison.

Husband and wife Lee Rudge and Joanne Rudge, of Llaniestyn, Pwllheli, allowed their bank accounts to be used to hold money raised by cannabis dealer James Marsden between May 2013 and January 2014.

Marsden, of Coed Madog Road, Talysarn, ran his drugs operation from his home and that belonging to his 66-year-old mother Marilyn Williams and her partner John Williams at Water Street, Penygroes.

Prosecutor Karl Scholz told a sentence hearing at Caernarfon Crown Court on Tuesday that the crimes had come to light when police raided both addresses on Monday, 6 January last year.

Officers found eight bags of herbal cannabis, lists of customers and documents containing the details of bank accounts belonging to the Rudges.

In addition, seven cash deposit slips were found at Talysarn and 11 at Penygroes showing payments into the Rudges’ accounts.

In all, around £13,500 was confirmed to have been paid into their accounts, though prosecutors believe the actual amount may have been as high as £35,000.

Initially, 37-year-old Lee Rudge and 43-year-old Joanne Rudge denied they had been involved in any drugs operation but they each later pleaded guilty to a charge of being concerned in money laundering.

Sentencing the couple, His Honour judge Michael Burr told them: “You knew perfectly well what was involved, what that money represented, and you provided the facility to allow that money to be laundered.”

He also condemned Lee Rudge for involving his wife in the crime.

“You were the most involved,” he said. “You involved your wife and that is unforgivable. You should never have allowed yourself to do that.

“She has to bear the consequences of becoming involved at your behest.”

The husband had previous convictions for drugs possession and dishonesty offences, while his wife was convicted of benefits fraud in August of last year.

Representing the couple, barrister Dafydd Roberts told the court that Lee Rudge had worked hard to rehabilitate himself since the original drugs raids.

He said: “Mr Rudge has taken positive steps to improve his life. He has obtained full-time employment and he now works as a coach driver working five or six days a week.

“He is highly regarded within the firm.”

Mr Roberts said Joanne Rudge had personal difficulties and health problems and would benefit from the “support and intervention” of the probation service if given a community order by the court.

Lee Rudge was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

Joanne Rudge was handed a community order and will be supervised by the probation service for 12 months.

Judge Burr told her: “You have difficulties, problems in relation to health and other matters.

“Hopefully, you will have a new lease of life without any involvement in this sort of activity.”

Marsden was jailed for 20 months, his mother Marilyn Williams was given a community order and her partner John Williams was ordered to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work.

All three had pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs.

Speaking after the case, Det Con Gwyn Williams at Caernarfon CID said: “This group’s behaviour was a plague on the local community and their convictions will I’m sure bring a degree of relief to many. I welcome the outcome and hope it will provide the public with some reassurance and make our communities safer.

“North Wales Police will relentlessly pursue those individuals who cause most harm and this type of behaviour will not be tolerated

“In line with the force’s Operation Scorpion we are fully committed to the investigation of serious and organised crime and eradicating it from our communities however we can’t tackle this problem alone. Key to all our work, and that of our partners, is intelligence and I cannot emphasise enough the importance of the community sharing concerns with us.”