A woman imprisoned for four years for money laundering was described as “intelligent and devious” by the judge that jailed her when he turned down her application to swap solicitors. Musarat Sultana, 40, of Springcliffe, Manningham, Bradford, is now out of prison on day release after she was locked up in December, 2012. Last November, it was alleged she had made £558,000 from her criminality. A hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act was adjourned so that the Crown could look for hidden assets.

Yesterday Sultana came back to court to apply to transfer her legal aid from one firm of solicitors to another. Rejecting the application, the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, told Sultana: “You are an intelligent, although devious, woman and well able to take on the issues yourself if you choose to.” Judge Thomas adjourned the hearing until March 24 when he said the case would be resolved.