A 62-year-old man from Liverpool has admitted hiding more than £82,000 of cash relating to criminal activity in a secret compartment in his car.

Edward Anthony Sutton, of Rufford Close, pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to remove criminal property from the Isle of Man.

Prosecutor Michael Jelski told the court how, on March 24, police suspected that Sutton was in possession of a large amount of cash relating to criminal activity.

At 2.29am officers went to his hotel room at the Empress Hotel where he was staying and arrested him on suspicion of money laundering.

A mobile phone was seized along with a small amount of cash in the room. Also found was a car key with a Saab logo.

The Saab was registered to Sutton and he told police that it was parked not far from the hotel.

The car was searched and when fabric on the back seat was pulled back, there was a sheet of plywood and cables found which appeared to be part of a release mechanism for the rear seats. A false panel in the back seat was found behind which was a number of packages. Bundles of Manx bank notes were found estimated to be worth thousands of pounds.

Metal shavings and a drill bit were also in the car which suggested that the compartment had been recently made.

Police checks found that Sutton had arrived on the island on March 22 on the ferry and was booked to return to Liverpool via the same route on the day of his arrest. He had paid cash for the hotel room and not booked it in advance.

He was also said to have made trips to and from the island on March 14, in July 2016 and twice in 2015.

When counted, the money totalled £82,260. Sutton gave ’no comment’ responses in a police interview.

Defending him in court his advocate Stephen Wood said that a basis of plea would be submitted before sentencing.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes recorded a conviction but declined jurisdiction.

Mrs Hughes said that, taking into account the amount of money and level of sophistication in concealing it, and that there was premeditation, the case should be sent to the Court of General Gaol Delivery, as her maximum sentencing powers of 12 months’ custody were insufficient.

Sutton will appear in the higher court on May 5.

No application for bail was made and he was remanded.