A 21-year-old woman who allowed her bank account to be used during a £13,000 internet scam has been jailed for 28 months.

Saffron Harley, who was living in Bury St Edmunds, allowed the proceeds from the sale of non-existent camera equipment and electrical goods advertised on Gumtree to be paid into her account between June 2013 and January 2014, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Around 20 people lost a total of £13,850 in the scam and had not got their money back, said Juliet Donovan, prosecuting.

Harley, who was living in Samuel Street Walk, Bury St Edmunds admitted money laundering, two offences of possessing heroin with intent to supply and possessing crack cocaine with intent to supply.

Jailing her for 28 months Recorder Martyn Levett told Harley: “You allowed your bank account to be used for money transfers from the public for non-existent goods bought on Gumtree.”

He described the scam as a “confidence fraud” and accepted that Harley had been exploited by other people.

Miss Donovan told the court Harley had been arrested in a car park at the Southgate Community Centre in Bury St Edmunds on May 19 and was found in possession of seven wraps of heroin and crack cocaine with a street value of £140.

She was arrested again in June in a flat in High Street, Newmarket and was was found to have 19 wraps of heroine and 17 wraps of cocaine hidden in her underwear.

Steven Dyble for Harley said she spent time in care as a child and had been in several abusive relationships.

He said Harley had been “utterly used” by someone she had been in a relationship with and had allowed her bank account to be used for the Gumtree fraud.

“She didn’t have any dealings with the victims of this fraud” said Mr Dyble.

He said Harley had been drug free since her arrest in June and needed to be taught skills to enable her to avoid getting into relationships in the future with men who would manipulate and abuse her.