THE public purse is more than £100,000 richer after a convicted York fraudster signed away his rights to the cash.

The decision by John Mervyn Jones of Shipton-by-Beningbrough, cleared the way for Northallerton magistrates to make a forfeiture order of £107,512.38. Jones jointly ran Coutts de Vere Systems Ltd, which then ran Moneyspinner of Blossom Street and two other shops of the same name in Hull and Otley.

The order is the biggest ever such order made in the county and comes after North Yorkshire Police’s financial investigation unit carried out a probe into the company.

Jones is currently serving six years in jail after being convicted of an unrelated conspiracy to defraud at Reading Crown Court on February 9, 2009. He made a disclaimer signing away his rights to the money before the Northallerton hearing. Detective Inspector Ian Wills, head of North Yorkshire Police’s financial investigation unit, said: “Extensive inquiries established a significant inference that the cash represented the proceeds of crime and undoubtedly led to Jones disclaiming his interest in the monies.

“This order is the largest such order ever made by the courts in North Yorkshire and is a good example of how North Yorkshire Police is using the powers made available to it to disrupt major criminality.” “The seizure sends a clear message that criminals will be hit where it hurts the most – their pocket.”

Police seized £102,000 cash and Jones signed a disclaimer for £97,000 of it. The court order recovered the £97,000 and the £10,512.38 interest it had earned since the seizure.

The Moneyspinner shops’ main activities at the time were selling second-hand goods and providing a cheque-cashing service. Members of the public can anonymously report anyone they suspect of living off criminal activity to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.