A FRAUDSTER from York has been ordered to pay back more than £1 million after a 10-year police investigation.

Paul Blanchard, 73, of St Oswald's Court, Fulford, was involved in a multi-million pound scam which spanned the UK, Spain, Gibraltar and Tenerife, and was sentenced in 2008 to six and a half years in prison for possessing criminal property worth £12,500, obtaining a money transfer of £30,000 by deception, conspiracy to obtain a money transfer of £4.3 million by deception and conspiracy to conceal, disguise, convert or transfer criminal property worth £375,000.

Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, the North East Regional Asset Recovery Team (RART), began combing through Blanchard's affairs to identify, secure and preserve assets that could satisfy a confiscation order made against him and to compensate his victims.

On Monday, Blanchard appeared before Teesside Crown Court where he was made subject to a confiscation order in the sum of £1,026,887.45, and North Yorkshire Police said the funds would be settled "from the sale of properties in York and Essex, together with a high-value personalised registration number".

If he does not repay the confiscation order within three months, he faces another five years in prison, and would still have to repay the balance.

The court also made compensation orders totalling £793,438.81 in respect of the victims of Blanchard’s criminality, which will be paid from the confiscation order.

Ramona Senior, head of the North East RART, said: "I am delighted that this long-running case has finally been brought to a conclusion, particularly as 80 per cent of the funds confiscated will be used to recompense Blanchard’s victims.

"My staff have doggedly pursued Blanchard over the years it has taken to get to this stage and demonstrates both that the interests of victims of crime are given the highest priority and that delays only serve to put off the inevitable. If Blanchard fails to realise the assets subject of this order, we will appoint enforcement receivers and sell them irrespective of cooperation on his part."

Detective Inspector Jon Hodgeon, head of North Yorkshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit, said: "This is a fantastic result and is testament to the support of victims in the case and the collaborative work of law enforcement. It is excellent that victims of this devious crime will be compensated following the judgement.

"This judgement is the result of many years of hard work and demonstrates that you simply cannot hide your assets and we will hold you to account. I thank the officers of North Yorkshire Police’s Major Fraud Investigation Team who secured the original conviction, as well as the support provided by the Regional Asset Recovery Team in achieving the order against Blanchard."

Blanchard told The Press: "I’m pleased to have finally settled the POCA case – which the court revealed had been the longest-running case of its kind in UK legal history.

"I was happy to sign-off the confiscation order in order to get on with my life after many years in which my assets have been effectively frozen. The value of the settlement will be met in full within the specified three-month period."