Adrian Taylor helped launder £2.6m from Guernsey States

The trial, which was originally scheduled to run for three weeks, could be finished in a matter of days

A man has admitted helping to launder £2.6m stolen from the States of Guernsey.

Adrian Taylor, 44, of Park Road Industrial Estate, Kent, pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court in London to entering into an arrangement to launder money and acquiring criminal property.

The court heard he received around £52,000 for his role as intermediary.

Taylor's co-accused, John Woodhatch, is due to be sentenced on 4 September after admitting his part in the plot.

The court was told how someone claiming to be from developer Lagan, which had an £80m contract to refurbish the runway at Guernsey airport, had telephoned the States Treasury asking for the bank details to be changed for future payments.

A transfer of £2,613,032 was made to the fake account. The court heard that as soon as it cleared, Woodhatch set about distributing it as fast as he could to other companies and individuals, including Taylor.

The trial was originally scheduled to run for three weeks.