A 24-year-old man accused of laundering criminal cash stolen from elderly people ‘lied’ to police to distance himself from a convicted fraudster, a court heard.

Syam Hussain is one of five on trial at Worcester Crown Court for money laundering offences linked to a £200,000 courier fraud.

Cold callers posed as police to con elderly people out of thousands of pounds, including in Evesham. Hussain appeared in the witness box on Thursday and was cross-examined by Christopher Canning, prosecuting.

Mr Canning challenged him over phone contact between him and convicted fraudster Idris Ali on May 10, 2016 and his control of accounts said to have been used to launder the cash.

But Hussain said the calls between them were 12 hours before and 12 hours after the fraud and told the jury: “Clearly I had nothing to do with the fraud.”

In one exchange he said: “You have had two years to get this evidence. So find it.”

Hussain, a 19-year-old student at the time of the alleged offence, was also challenged about photos of bank notes including £50 and £20 notes but he said this was cash from a car sold by his friend. He said: “I’m not going to transfer money to a guy’s account I have never met or seen in my life. Who would do that? Be serious.”

Mr Canning said: “The reason you told lies about Idris Ali in your interview is because you were putting distance between you.” But Hussain said the reason he lied was ‘to do with cannabis’.

Vivian Brauner, 40, of Cumrae Street, Cardiff, Paulo Custodio, 22, of Bedford House, Clapham North, Claudio Megi, 24, of Green Farm Hostel, Clos Tan Y Ffarm, Cardiff, Syam Hussain, 24, of Scarle Road, Wembley, and Muhmmed Talukdar, 22, of Stepney Way, London all deny charges relating to alleged money laundering. Brauner, Custodio and Megi all deny conspiracy to convert criminal property between April 24 and July 31, 2016. Talukdar and Hussain each deny an arrangement concerning criminal property.

The trial continues.