A solicitor has been jailed for 12 months for money laundering, perverting the course of justice and prejudicing a money laundering investigation.

Nicholas Heywood, 45, of High Bank Lane, Bolton, was sentenced at Chester Crown Court (pictured) on 11 January for facilitating the laundering of money from a vulnerable lottery winner.

In a separate case, Heywood, formerly a partner with Manchester firm the Betesh Partnership, also withheld and altered conveyancing files connected with a police enquiry into the money laundering activities of a friend, now also convicted.

Detective Inspector Tim Dean of Cheshire Constabulary said: ‘Heywood abused his trusted position as a solicitor with the deliberate intent of frustrating a police investigation and justice itself. Heywood very nearly succeeded, but through sheer tenacity officers in the case uncovered the truth resulting in his conviction.’

A Betesh Partnership spokesman said: ‘We were very sorry to hear about Mr Heywood. However, we have had no dealings with him since he stopped being a partner here in autumn 2010.’

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) declined to comment before Heywood’s appearance before a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. The SRA website records that it imposed control of practice orders on Heywood in December 2008 and July 2010.