A self-employed steel worker has admitted being involved in money laundering after a package containing £43,150 in cash was found.

Ross Menton, of Rosemount, Douglas, was committed to the Court of General Gaol Delivery for sentencing where he will appear on October 16.

When asked for his plea to a charge of possessing criminal property, the 32-year-old said: ’It’s a hard one to swallow but guilty.’

Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court that, on September 7, a witness was contacted on Facebook by her cousin in the UK asking her to collect a package from Menton’s Rosemount address.

She was told it would contain trainers so she agreed to collect it.

She went to the property on September 8 after receiving a further Facebook message telling her to collect the trainers from ’Charlie’ at Rosemount.

At first she could get no answer at the address but then Menton arrived and put the package in her car saying ’I’m glad to be rid of these’, which she said made her suspicious.

The woman said that the package appeared too heavy for trainers so she opened it and found the cash inside.

She called police who then arrested Menton.

When interviewed he gave ’no comment’ responses to all questions.

Mr Swain said that investigations were still continuing to establish whether the cash related to drugs.

Defence advocate Paul Glover said that a basis of plea would be entered by his client before sentencing.

The court heard that Menton was due to be sentenced on October 13 for other offences of possession of cocaine, cannabis and diazepam to which he had pleaded guilty previously.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes ordered that all matters be sentenced together on October 16 at the higher court.

Bail was refused and he is remanded in custody.