Solicitor denies cash claims in college scam

ACCUSED . . . solicitor Andrew Wormstone

A SOLICITOR has denied laundering money for a client who attempted to con Oldham Sixth Form College out of £730,000.

The college, which was then undergoing building works, was the target of the scam after receiving a fake letter purporting to be from one of its contractors.

In the message, the school was told the company had changed banks and asked to send all future payments to a new account.

Andrew Wormstone (42), of Ashworth Road, Pontefact, West Yorkshire, is said to have received the cash in the accounts of his Leeds-based law firm Velocity Legal, before transferring it to a Coutts account in the name of the client.

Appearing in court, Wormstone spoke only to confirm his identity and enter not-guilty pleas during a brief hearing before the Old Bailey.

He will return to court to stand trial on a date yet to be fixed in the week beginning February 20, 2012. Wormstone denies concealing criminal property and transferring criminal property.

l Oldham Sixth Form College stresses it did not end up losing any money as a result of this transaction.