A WOMAN was ‘living it large’ on the proceeds of drug dealing, a court heard.

Elizabeth Cottle denies a conspiracy to conceal criminal property.

The 25-year-old was cross-examined at Worcester Crown Court on Friday by prosecutor, John Butterfield QC, who argued that her lavish lifestyle was funded by the proceeds of dealing cocaine.

Cottle stands trial alongside eight co-defendants, including partner Ashley James, telling the jury she worked hard for her money.

The court heard how she went on holidays to New York, Barbados, Los Angeles and Las Vegas and stayed in ‘luxury’ hotels in London. She owned a Burberry coat, bought by James as a gift from Selfridges for £1,090.

A £2,875 quartz kitchen worktop was installed at the home she shared with James at Cherington Close, Worcester. The holiday in Los Angeles and Las Vegas cost £5,145 and the holiday in Barbados cost £6,374, £6,000 of which was paid in cash on the day the holiday was booked. The New York holiday cost £2,735 and again James paid for the holiday in cash.

The court heard that Cottle, who worked at Worcester Bosch for minimum wage and at nightclub Bushwackers, earned £16,635 a year and James, a plumber and doorman, earned £26,000, giving them a combined income of £42,635.

Mr Butterfield said despite this income the couple spent £25,169 in 2014 alone on 'luxuries' (59 per cent of their global income), excluding expenses like mortgage payments, utility bills and council tax.

She admitted staying at the London Marble Arch Hotel and the Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard in 2014. Mr Butterfield said: "It's not the Travelodge is it?"

He added: “You were burning through money you didn’t have in any legitimate way. These are eye-watering sums. You were living it large in every sphere.

"You cannot be so deluded as to believe a plumber could afford all this, even one that earns a little bit more as a bouncer?"

However, Cottle said she had worked hard for her money, performing more than one job, 'saving hard', making sacrifices, not drinking, not smoking and not going out. She also said a £400 per head meal she had at the Shangri-La also included brunch the next day and said the trip had been 'once in a lifetime'.

Cottle challenged the figures about her earnings as inaccurate and said they did not reflect her entire income.

Mr Butterfield said: "You knew that money was coming from cocaine didn't you?"

"No I didn't" she replied.

She and James had discussed the price of £5,000 Rolex matching watches and even tried one on but said she said she had no intention of buying one.

When asked if she thought she had lived a life of luxury she said: "That's a matter of opinion."

She was pressed by Mr Butterfield about whether a Burberry coat costing £1,090, bought for her as a gift, was a luxury item but replied: "I would class it as a nice item." Cottle also said she bought clothes in H&M and New Look.

When asked if she thought it was normal for holidays to be paid for in cash she replied: "What's normal?"

The trial resumes on Tuesday.