A MAN who sold on stolen, high powered motorcycles to unsuspecting members of the public has been told to pay over �40,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Mechanic Gary Smith, 38, was ordered to pay �42,400 following a confiscation hearing at Luton Crown

A MAN who sold on stolen, high powered motorcycles to unsuspecting members of the public has been told to pay over �40,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Mechanic Gary Smith, 38, was ordered to pay �42,400 following a confiscation hearing at Luton Crown Court on Friday.

He must also pay over �7,500 in compensation to the people who bought the bikes in good faith.

Smith had previously been convicted of one count of possessing criminal property, eight of handling stolen goods and four of fraud at the court in September 2008.

He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out unpaid work for 250 hours.

If he fails to pay the confiscation order or the compensation to the victims within six months, he will be sent to prison for 18 months.

Smith received stolen motorcycles, changed their appearance and then sold them on at SDC Performance, a business he ran in Bessemer Drive, Stevenage.

The high performance bikes that came into Smith's possession included a Honda CBR 600, BMW R1150 and a Suzuki SV 650.

He was arrested by police in November 2007 after a customer, who unwittingly purchased a bike, discovered that it had been stolen.

The large confiscation order represents the amount that Smith, of Hardwicke Place, London Colney is estimated to have benefited from his actions. Once received, a percentage of the order will be given back to police to help fight crime.

Detective Sergeant Chas Moore of the eastern area money laundering unit said: "Nobody should benefit from crime, and I am satisfied that Smith has been ordered to pay more than �40,000 for his offences.

"His actions meant a number of people, who thought they were buying a motorcycle in good faith, were actually getting stolen property. I'm pleased for these victims that they will receive some compensation for their loss.