Catherine Ann Griffin, 60, landed in Ipswich District Court after being scammed into a fake online relationship

A 60-year-old woman who gave $90,000 to a man who scammed her into a fake online relationship has faced court after the man used her bank accounts to commit fraud.

A “naive” woman who was tricked into a fake online relationship has been left with “nothing” but a criminal record after the scam cost her $90,000 and landed her in court.

Catherine Ann Griffin faced court for the first time in her life at age 60 after her bank account was used to defraud a man of about $13,500.

Griffin was charged with reckless money laundering after a man she met online, who claimed to be called Thomas King, preyed on her vulnerability and tricked her into a fake relationship.

She allowed Mr King to use her bank account to transfer money in and out of, money which he had scammed from another man by claiming to be his sister-in-law, Crown prosecutor Amanda Robinson said.

Defence barrister Allana Davie said Griffin had a difficult childhood and problems with her mother, which could have contributed to her “naivety” with Mr King.

She said Griffin and Mr King met on the internet following her divorce and were in a “tumultuous” online relationship for four years before the offending.

Ms Davie said Mr King “drew her in” and promised Griffin a lot of things but never showed up to Australia.

She said Griffin felt abandoned and did not tell her adult children about the relationship until things went downhill.

The Ipswich District Court heard the woman, who had a no criminal history, was left with “nothing” after also losing $90,000 of her own money to the man.

Ms Davie said Griffin gave Mr King the money and when she said she had no more he ended the relationship.

Catherine Ann Griffin leaves Ipswich District Court.

“(Griffin) didn’t think she’d be sitting here at the age of 60 for something like this,” Ms Davie said.

She said Griffin was embarrassed and remorseful at what had happened.

Griffin pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one charge of reckless money laundering on a date between August 5 and August 14, 2020, in Bundamba.

The court heard Griffin had since moved to Tasmania and flew to Queensland for sentencing.

Judge Dennis Lynch said Griffin had lived a “blameless” life and was as much a victim as she was an offender.

“In essence you had been tricked into believing you were in an online relationship … the purpose of that was to extract money from you and to use you to further (commit) fraud upon others,” he said.

“(Which) saw you in the end left without anything.

“As part of this scam you were convinced it was appropriate to allow the use of your bank accounts. you facilitated that use by transferring money as directed.

“(Your) criminality is recklessness in allowing yourself and bank account to be used in this way, effectively assisted in laundering money which was fraudulently obtained from that complainant.”

Judge Lynch said Griffin had been vulnerable and preyed upon in the sense that Mr King took advantage of her naivety.

He sentenced Griffin to six months in prison wholly suspended for 18 months.

“I don’t in any sense regard you as person with a criminal mindset,” Judge Lynch said.

“This has been an expensive lesson for you.

“I’m sure it will be one which will ensure you don’t come back before the court.”