Fraudster ordered to pay £22k for £508k fraud

He was given an eight month prison sentence, a two year suspension, and an order to carry out 100 hours’ unpaid work in February 2010 at Durham Crown Court.

Clark admitted to two counts of fraud and making false statements to obtain benefit and to obtain money transfers by deception.

The charges arose from mortgage applications made for properties in Stockton, Newcastle and Durham for sums up to £200,000 between 2005 and 2008, as well as for a £26,000 loan for a BMW.

He was also said to have received £12,039 in income support between December 2003 and November 2006 and from April to July 2007.

When asked about the mortgage applications, Clark claimed to be working as a property adviser earning between £48,500 and £72,000 a year.

He submitted false wage slips for one of the mortgage applications.

Following subsequent inquiries under the Proceeds of Crime Act, Clark was declared to have “benefited” by £507,939.

However he was only ordered to pay £5,550 in compensation, money held in a savings account when he was arrested.

The POCA hearing in May 2010 was told that Clark earned “good money” as a personal trainer in the US and other parts of the world.

Clark was back before Durham Court yesterday when he was ordered to pay a further £22,000 in proceeds of crime.

Roger Liddle, for the Crown, said it was made up of money from two accounts, one a business account set up since the original confiscation order, £7,500 from the sale of an Audi plus £12,500 from the sale of a personalised number plate “72 B”.

Clark will be allowed £8,000 from the sale of the Audi to buy a more modest car for work purposes.

Recorder Darren Preston gave Clark six months to pay the £22,00 with up to 14 months prison sentence in default.