A SHAMED businessman who carried out a £180,000 VAT tax fraud has been ordered to pay back the cash.

John Farrell was locked up for 27 months in February 2019 for the illegal scheme.

The 63 year-old had returned to crime after being hit with a £96,000 confiscation order.

This was after Farrell was jailed for almost six years in 2011 for a huge counterfeit money operation in East Kilbride.

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A Proceeds of Crime hearing took place at Glasgow Sheriff Court where it emerged the confiscation order now totals £175,018.

Farrell, of Thorntonhall, has been unable to sell his property - his only asset - due to his wife’s poor health and the current pandemic.

He has yet to make any repayment and the Crown were in the process of hiring an administrator.

Farrell recently instructed Ross Yuill to represent him and the lawyer called for a further adjournment.

Mr Yuill: “There were discussions between him and his wife about savings which can be released.

“His wife was a lecturer who worked all her life and can withdraw from her pension and put it in her savings.

“This can be released to the sum of £120,000.

“A continuation would allow them to present something to the Crown and it would not take an enormous amount of time.

“He has a property but there is a significant mortgage on it.”

Sheriff Paul Crozier replied: "If £120,000 was to be paid that would leave a balance of £54,000.

Mr Yuill said: "It still presents a difficulty."

Sheriff Crozier continued the matter until next month.

The sheriff stated, however, the alternative period of imprisonment for failing to pay was a total of 1,041 days.