A PAIR who defrauded the company they were working for out of £70,000 have been ordered to repay an chunk of the money they stole.
Carl Hestford and Fiona Kerr pilfered the money while working for Greater Manchester-based business Carousel Soft Furnishing Limited in 2016.
Their deception came to light when a customer wanted a refund from a purchase from the Failsworth firm.
The company director then became aware that the pair had set up a false PayPal account and were siphoning off funds. It is believed that around £70,000 was taken in total.
Hestford, of Daisy Bank Mill Close in Culcheth, initially denied offences of fraud by abuse of position and money laundering.
But he eventually did plead guilty to both charges alongside Kerr, of Market Street in Hyde.
They were both sentenced to two-year suspended prison sentences at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court in April.
Both Hestford and Kerr were hauled back before the court this morning, Thursday, for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing to learn how much of their ill-gotten gains they would need to repay.
Here, 41-year-old Hestford was ordered to stump up £38,258.40 in full or face being sent to jail.
He has been given three months to pay the total amount, or he will face a six-month prison sentence and would still be liable to pay the money upon his release.
Kerr, 37, was made subject to a compensation order and must pay back £10 a week for a period of three years.
Following the hearing, financial investigations manager Ben Evans, from Greater Manchester Police’s economic and cyber crime section, said: “We are very pleased with today's Proceeds of Crime Act ruling.
“Hopefully, this sends a powerful message that all criminal actions do have consequences.
“Often, taking away the money and the lifestyle that criminals crave stings much more than sending them to prison.
“Both Hestford and Kerr were in positions of trust that they abused for their own gain, and I hope this sends a warning to anyone considering criminal behaviour that not only will we do everything in our power to secure a conviction, but that you will have to pay back ill-gotten gains.
“While we are pleased with today's result, we are aware that fighting fraud is relentless.
“We will continue to work diligently to remove criminal proceeds from the hands of those who seek to profit from criminality, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the public for continuing to support our work by sharing information.
“If you see something or suspect anything, say something and we can do something about it.”
Anyone with any information can contact police by calling 101, phoning independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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