A GRIFFITHSTOWN ice-cream man and a Cwmbran woman appeared in court yesterday charged with money laundering from selling counterfeit cigarettes.

Sara Skinner, 44, of Oakleigh Court, Henllys, stood for trial at Newport crown court charged with eight counts of converting criminal property, said to be contraband cigarettes and tobacco, over a four year period to fund her “lavish lifestyle.”

Simon Leighton, 42, of Maple Road South, Griffithstown, also stood for trial alongside Skinner charged with one count of becoming concerned in money laundering, said to be selling the counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco from his ice cream van.

Both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The jury, which was sworn in yesterday, heard from prosecutor Matthew Cobbe who said Skinner and her late husband Mark had used the money from selling ‘thousands’ of counterfeit cigarettes said to be of the brand Regal and counterfeit tobacco of the brand Golden Virginia, to fund their “lavish lifestyle” which was far in excess of their means.

Mr Cobbe said that the approximate retail value of £40,000 for the cigarettes and £3,500 for the tobacco.

The jury heard how Skinner, who had various jobs including a job at Thomson's travel agency and the prison service, was alleged to have spent £100,000 on cars and holidays from money laundering which “far exceeded her legitimate means.”

Mr Cobbe said police went to Skinner's house on February 27, 2013.

“Outside the house three cars were parked on the drive; a BMW convertible; a Land Rover Defender; and a Fiat 500," he said.

Mr Cobbe said Skinner and her husband had spent £50,000 on buying new cars and £50,000 on holidays over a four year period from 2009 to 2013; £4,000 at Curry’s with purchases including a 3D TV; and £1,700 on trips at the Celtic Manor.

The prosecution said that police who had attended Skinner's house in Cwmbran had filmed what they were finding at the property.

Leighton, who was said in court to have known Skinner's husband through golf, was alleged to have been selling the counterfeit cigarettes from his ice cream van over this period.

The prosecution said he was caught “red handed” by police carrying a box of the cigarettes said to be worth £7,000 which he was alleged to have sold on from his van to finance the “lavish lifestyle” of Skinner, before he was arrested on June 5, 2012.

Proceeding.