Stephen Berry, of Sandycroft, Deeside, was involved in 16 burglaries but was said to have no assets
A teenager who made nearly £93,000 from a burglary conspiracy has been ordered to pay back just £60.
Stephen Berry was part of a gang said to have targeted Asian families for the gold they had in their homes, and a financial hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act heard today that his “criminal benefit” was £92,850.
But he had no assets, and the only amount that could be confiscated from him was £60, which had been seized by the police at the time of the investigation.
Judge Niclas Parry, sitting at Mold Crown Court, made the agreed order today and said he could only order what was available to be confiscated.
He warned Berry that if, for example, he won the lottery or his circumstances changed, then “they can come back for the balance”.
Berry, now 19 but 17 at the time, of Factory Road, Sandycroft, Deeside, was one of a gang of 10 men sentenced for the conspiracy in September of last year.
He received two years youth detention after he agreed he was involved in 16 burglaries.
Proceeds of Crime Act cases against nine others were today adjourned for a contested hearing in September.
Last year, the gang of burglars was jailed for a total of 42 years and nine months.
At the sentencing hearing, they were told that they had caused great concern to the Asian community and also targeted the elderly and the vulnerable.
Judge Parry said that the whole conspiracy involved 37 burglaries in Chester, the Wirral, the Welsh borders and the Midlands.
Stolen cars had been used and the court heard that burglars got clothes from charity shops – including Beatle wigs – to disguise themselves.
There was evidence of scenes being cleaned, latex gloves being used and bleach being poured to prevent possible detection.
Many bleach bottles were recovered from the vehicles used.
Asian families’ homes were deliberately targeted, the judge said, because offenders rightly believed that high value gold would be in their homes.
“The conspiracy caused great concern to the Asian community,” he said.
The judge said he took into account that no violence or weapons had been used and there were no injuries.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/teenager-made-93000-asian-gold-12710949
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