Martin Watson, from Newcastle, was found guilty last year of submitting at least 20 mortgage applications containing false information and backed by forged documentation to secure loans worth £2.24m, reported the Shields Gazette.
Watson has been released from jail after serving less than half of a three year and nine month prison sentence, and yesterday appeared before Newcastle Crown Court for a Proceeds of Crime hearing.
The court agreed that Watson benefitted by £913,307 from his fraud, but the available assets he has amount to just £237,624.
Judge Roger Thorn ordered that the £237,624 be paid within six months or Watson will face three years in prison.
However, Watson, who branded the Proceeds of Crime Act “draconian”, claimed to the Journal Live that he only made £15,000 from the scam.
In order to meet the court order, Watson said he is trying to sell a property he owns in Florida and may have to consider putting his Newcastle home on the market.
