A COUPLE said by a judge to have "enjoyed the high life" as a result of fraud from a Clitheroe company have been ordered to repay thousands of pounds or face a further two years in jail.
Judge Philip Sycamore ordered Carolyn Walsh and her ex-husband David Walsh to hand over £127,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
David Walsh previously admitted a £680,000 fraud carried out on Concept Building Solutions after convincing the company he was a qualified accountant.
Sitting at Preston Crown Court, the Judge ruled David Walsh had benefited by £618,000 and Carolyn Walsh by £135,000, but the court heard the amount of cash available for confiscation totalled £127,000.
Carolyn Walsh (43), of Princes Reach, Ashton, Preston, was jailed for 15 months in March for money laundering and perverting the course of justice. David Walsh (39) got six years for fraud in 2007 and later had 12 months added to the sentence for perjury and perverting the course of justice.
The court heard Carolyn Walsh laundered thousands of pounds through her bank account before it was spent on jewellery and expensive goods, as well as stays in hotels like Claridges, where a £6,000 bill was run up.
DC Rod Steele, from the Serious and Organised Crime Unit Financial Investigation Unit, said: "Lancashire Constabulary will not allow criminals to profit from their crime and today we have ensured that when he does leave prison he will return to nothing."
DC Steele added Walsh lived a life well beyond his means and had nearly put Concept Building Solutions out of business.
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