A JAILED money launderer will have to sell his home and other assets to pay back £155,000 gained through his criminal activities.

At Woolwich Crown Court on Friday (February 26), Judge Michael Carroll said he was satisfied William Carter, aged 51, had benefited financially from his crimes.

Carter, of Hawes Lane West Wickham, was jailed by Judge Carroll in March last year, following an investigation by Bexley police.

They were investigating the theft of a number of mechanical diggers from a building site in Erith.

Their enquiries led them to a storage yard in Slade Green and on May 25 2007, police went to the yard with a search warrant and recovered £250,000 worth of stolen lorries and plant equipment.

Further investigations revealed the yard was being used, without the knowledge of its owners, by an organised criminal network in which Carter was a major player.

The network was responsible for large scale thefts of lorries and building site machinery which were then transported to a variety of destinations, including Cyprus.

Five days after their first visit to the yard, officers returned to Slade Green and arrested three men, including Carter.

Bexley police also discovered two other storage yards in Lower Sydenham and Beckenham, where more stolen equipment was found.

In total, £553,000 worth of stolen equipment was recovered and returned to the rightful owners.

After Carter was jailed, Bexley police's payback unit began an investigation into his finances, which led to Friday's confiscation order.

Judge Carroll ordered the confiscation of £154,449 from Carter, which included compensation payments of £69,817 to his victims, one of whom was put out of business by Carter's activities.

Acting Bexley borough commander Superintendent Glyn Jones said: "This is a victory for justice and those we seek to protect and support in living honest and decent lives."

He added: "Carter was convicted of money laundering in March 2009.

"Today, as a direct consequence of his conviction and an intrusive investigation by police financial investigators, he has been ordered to pay £154,499.

"This means he has to sell his home and other assets."

And Mr Jones warned: "We will look to use these powers against all career criminals."