Nigel Farage distances himself from former aide facing 20 years in US jail for trying to defraud criminals on the ‘dark web’
George Cottrell posed as a 'financier' and offered to help transfer the ill-gotten gains of drug traffickers
NIGEL Farage has distanced himself from a former aide who faces up to 20 years in a US jail after admitting trying to defraud criminals on the "dark web".
George Cottrell posed as a "financier" on a black market network where he offered to help transfer the ill-gotten gains of drug traffickers, according to court documents.
But his prospective clients were in fact undercover agents, and he was arrested as he and Mr Farage travelled back to Britain following a trip to the US.
The former Ukip leader told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "He's not an employee, he was a volunteer. He was unpaid.
“He was helping me do stuff. He'd been part of our party for a couple of years.
"We never had any suspicions about him at all. He faced 21 charges in America, 20 have been dropped. He's pleaded guilty to a C grade felony.
"Listen, I can't be responsible for what everyone around me does."
Asked if he was disappointed in the former aide, Mr Farage said: "Surprised ... he was 20 years old at the time this happened. Guilt, no guilt, fallen into bad company - I'm not sure."
At the time of his arrest at Chicago's O'Hare Airport, Ukip described Cottrell as "an unpaid and enthusiastic volunteer for the party over the period of the referendum".
The ex-aide, who is in his 20s, now faces up to two decades in jail and a fine of up to $250,000 (£203,000) after reaching a deal with prosecutors.
Mr Cottrell, who comes from a wealthy, aristocratic family, was arrested as he returned from the Republican Party convention with Mr Farage on July 22.
His uncle, Lord Hesketh, a former hereditary peer, worked for ex-prime minister Margaret Thatcher before losing his seat in 1999 as a result of the House of Lords Act. He later defected to Ukip.
A Ukip spokesman said at the time of his arrest: "George was an unpaid and enthusiastic volunteer for the party over the period of the referendum.
"We are unaware of the details of the allegations excepting that they date from a time before he was directly involved in the party."
On Monday a spokesman said they were not commenting on the matter, and was unable to confirm whether or not Cottrell was a member of the party.