A businessman who was jailed for handling stolen goods has been ordered to pay nearly £92,000.

Nikki Mistry, aged 29, was arrested in October 2013 as part of a police operation to tackle a spate of burglaries in Harwich.

Police found a stolen laptop, numerous items believed to have been stolen, and 345 counterfeit £10 notes during a search warrant in the town.

Mistry, of Main Road, Harwich, was charged with two counts of handling stolen goods and one charge of possession of counterfeit currency.

He admitted the charges and was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on April 27 this year to 12 months in jail for handling stolen goods and a 12-month jail term suspended for two years for possessing counterfeit currency.

An examination of Mistry’s finances revealed that a large number of items, which were thought to have been stolen, had been sold under his username on an auction website.

A confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act took place at Chelmsford Crown Court on September 25.

The court heard he had made a criminal benefit of £393,234.25 since October 2007.

He was also found to have available assets of £91,930.78, which he was ordered to pay within three months or face a further 16 months in jail.

Some of the money will be awarded to five victims as compensation and a proportion will be used to fight crime in Essex.

Mistry will still owe the remaining money he is deemed to have made from crime and this will be taken from him if he is found to have more assets at any time in the future.

Tendring district commander chief inspector Russ Cole said: “During 2013, Harwich suffered a spate of burglaries and thefts from vehicles.

“We took a proactive approach to tackling these issues and found a small but organised criminal network was responsible.

“Using some covert tactics, we managed to secure the arrest of those involved including Mistry, who was the lynchpin in the group and handler.

“Further investigations revealed he had profited to the tune of nearly £400,000 from his criminal enterprises.

“The recent court sentences and confiscation order send a strong message that we will vigorously pursue those involved in crime and the implications do not stop after they have been sentenced.”