A family of jewellers spending a total of 20 years behind bars for running “an organised gold scam” worth £1.4m have been ordered to pay back more than £945,000.

Brian Maltman, 55, his wife Kim, 56, and their 23-year-old son Daniel, all of Havering Road, Collier Row, were found guilty and sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court in August last year for their part in a scheme that saw stolen gold melted down and sold on.

But following the sentencing, officers from Kent Police’s serious economic crime unit continued investigating the family’s lifestyle and background and discovered that Brian and Kim Maltman had both benefited from the criminal conduct by £3,095,382.67 and Daniel Maltman by £2,857,882.67.

At a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing, held at the same court on Friday, January 19, Brian Maltman was ordered to pay back available assets of £435,204.77 which included a house, cash held in bank accounts and cash seized by police on two occasions.

At the same hearing Kim Maltman was ordered to pay back assets of £509,819.15 which included a house and cash held in bank accounts. A nominal order of £1 was made for Daniel Maltman as there were no assets available.

If any of the family fail to comply with the order they will have to serve an additional prison sentence and still have to pay back the money after this.

Detective Inspector Annie Clayton of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: “It is wrong that someone should be able to profit from committing crime and we will continue to use legislation to pursue offenders and seize any cash or assets that we can prove they have obtained through criminal behaviour.

“The Maltman family were sentenced last year but this is an excellent example of how we continue to investigate crimes to ensure that those who have profited from crimes do not get away with this.”

Det Sgt David Wilkinson of Essex Police’s criminal investigation department said: “This was a complex investigation by officers in Kent and Essex, and demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that crime does not pay.

“The Maltmans were living a luxurious lifestyle off the back of ill-gotten gains.

“That lifestyle abruptly came to an end, which is a just outcome.”