A MAN was caught with £100,000 in dirty money and an EncroChat encrypted phone in an organised crime raid.

James Catchpole, 37, was also snared with a money-counting machine at a property in Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire, on May 27, 2020.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that police received intelligence that Catchpole "was involved in serious organised crime."

The find was a result of Police Scotland's Operation Definitive probe.

A search warrant was granted for Catchpole's home.

Prosecutor Darren Harty said: "Police recovered a counting machine as well as an EncroChat encrypted phone.

"A total of £100,000 in mixed notes was found in the property which was seized."

Catchpole pleaded guilty to acquiring and possessing criminal property.

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Former co-accused James Irons, 66, of Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, and Angela Dickson, 36, of Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, had their not guilty pleas accepted.

Peter Malone, defending, told the court: "The position is he worked for 17 years and he lost his job at the start of the pandemic.

"Thereafter, he allowed himself to become involved in the matter before the court.

"It is a very serious matter - it is accepted - and there will be a particular background advised in the reports."

Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month by Sheriff Gerard Considine who granted Catchpole bail.

He said: "A custodial sentence is in the uppermost of my mind."