A solicitor who played the organ in his local church was jailed for three months on money laundering charges today.

Brian Dougan, 49, of Northern Ireland, allowed £66,000 to pass through his client account while carrying out conveyancing work for a convicted criminal.

Dougan, who has been asked to stand down from his position as a church elder, did not initially realise the cash came from a criminal source, but continued with the work even when he became suspicious.

He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing at Liverpool Crown Court to one count of converting or transferring the proceeds of criminal conduct.

Judge David Swift, sentencing at the same court today, accepted that Dougan was a naive victim of a sophisticated criminal, but said that solicitors must "take the greatest care" to stop others using their respectability to launder cash.

Dougan was originally on trial for the more serious charge of conspiring to conceal the proceeds of crime. He pleaded guilty to the less serious charge as soon as it was offered.

Tim Holroyd QC, defending, stressed how Dougan - a pillar of his church community - had been shattered by the loss of his reputation but Judge Swift refused to suspend the three month sentence.

Dougan has already sold his law firm and is expected to be barred from running a sole practice by the Law Society. He may be allowed to work in a limited role as an assistant solicitor.

The head of Britain’s new Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) has promised to take a tough stance against solicitors who wilfully disregard money laundering reporting obligations.

Sir Stephen Lander told the Law Society Gazette that a "bent solicitor" was a "heaven-sent opportunity" for money launderers.

"There are not a lot of dodgy lawyers in percentage terms, but a significant number are struck off for dishonesty. A bent solicitor is a very important asset to a criminal gang – the client account is a heaven-sent opportunity for money launderers to turn cash into legitimate assets," he said.

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