A MAN convicted of money laundering offences has been ordered to pay more than £30,000 he made through illegal earnings.

Daniel Lockwood, 35, from Swanage was handed the confiscation order at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday, January 18 following a contested hearing.

He was ordered to pay £31,672.86 or face going to prison for eight months after which time he would still be liable to pay the cash.

Lockwood’s confiscation followed his convicted on May 28 after he pleaded guilty to money laundering offences.

He was sentenced to a community order and ordered to carry out 50-hours of unpaid work.

The confiscation proceedings were brought by Zephyr’s Criminal Finance Team as part of Operation Delphi, supported by Dorset Police.

Detective Inspector Tony Hubbard, of Zephyr, said: “This case highlights that the police will relentlessly pursue and remove any benefit of offending using the powers available to us under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

“This confiscation result should send out a very clear message to anyone involved or contemplating criminality to stop – if you don’t you risk losing everything.”

Police Sergeant Jane Mooney, of Purbeck police, said: “This conviction and subsequent confiscation order demonstrates Dorset Police’s commitment to tackling organised crime.

“Money laundering is an insidious crime that has at its roots, all manner of criminality and local officers have worked hard with the national Zephyr unit to ensure our communities are kept safe by disrupting organised criminal activity.”