A forklift driver who lived a lavish lifestyle from a plot to steal £3.5m worth of whiskey has been ordered to pay back £75,000.
James Barr, 35, was jailed for three years for playing a “crucial role” in the plot to steal tens of thousands of crates of Jack Daniels.
Police said his part in the plot had funded a lifestyle of buying expensive cars, clothing, holidays and electrical items that was “way beyond his means”.
He has now been ordered to pay back £74,956 following a proceeds of crime hearing at Norwich Crown Court.
READ MORE: Norwich forklift driver jailed over £3.5m Jack Daniels theft
Recorder Simon Taylor said he had three months to pay back the money which includes selling a holiday lodge bought with stolen assets.
The court was told it was agreed he had benefited by more than £276,000 but that the amount available to be recovered was a small fraction of that.
As part of the assets to be seized Recorder Taylor also approved a compliance order to recover £1,524 from Barr’s pension.
The scam had involved stealing unauthorised lorry loads of whiskey from Richard Johnston, a bonded warehouse at Snetterton where shippers store imported goods before customs processing.
CCTV showed lorries leaving through a side gate that avoided a weighbridge where drivers had to show documentation.
READ MORE: Norwich whiskey thief used proceeds to fund lifestyle
In total more than 123,000 bottles of whiskey were stolen with a total value of £3.5m while the company suffered further losses from lost business.
Barr, who helped load the lorries and resigned his role as duty supervisor following the thefts, was paid off with bags of cash that he then deposited in ATM machines.
Det Sgt Mark Tate, who led the police investigation, said: “This was a long-standing investigation that showed Barr abused his position at the company and the trust of his employers.”
Barr, who appeared in court, was told failure to pay back the £75,000 would result in a further 12 months imprisonment.
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