‘Habitual fraudster’ told to repay almost £670,000

However, Brett Walker, 38, did not attend yesterday’s hearing at Hull Crown Court and is believed to be living off his ill-gotten gains in Thailand.

Walker, of Newbridge Road, Hull, was arrested in January 2011 and charged with obtaining a money transfer by deception. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

He was charged with further offences in March last year, including making false statements to obtain benefits, theft and acquiring criminal property, and was sentenced to a further nine months.

Investigations found he illegally netted about £650,000 between 1988 and 2011. He has now been ordered to pay back a total of £669,125 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Lorraine Baines, of the force’s Asset Recovery Investigation Unit, said: “Brett Walker is a habitual fraudster who has continued to commit offences for most of his adult life.

“As Walker failed to attend and claimed to be in Thailand it has left the court with no alternative but to make the order in the full amount of the benefit. “Although Walker has spent the majority of his benefit on his lifestyle, when he returns to the UK he will have to either pay up in full or serve his default term of four and a half years.”