Cowboy builder who fleeced customers out of £77k is only made to pay back £1.

A SERIAL conman, who ripped off customers for tens of thousands of pounds, has been ordered to pay back just £1.

- By MARTIN NAYLOR

Nottingham cowboy builder Carl Mould - now known as Nicholas Hampshire - made £77,438.76 by fleecing five customers with substandard building and gardening work.

But financial investigators have looked into his bank accounts and assets and found that he has nothing to pay back.

Mould was jailed for three years and nine months earlier this year.

During a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Nottingham Crown Court, Judge Balraj Bhatia KC told the defendant, who appeared over a video-link from Sudbury Prison: "Mr Hampshire, the criminal benefit figure has been agreed at £77,438.76 and I order that you pay back a nominal £1."

The Proceeds of Crime Act allows money to be seized from criminals who have made their money from crime. It is typically used after drug dealers have been sentenced.

Criminals can be forced to sell their properties, cars or jewellery to pay it back. The money seized is usually split 50-50 between the police and the Government and often used for community projects.