Sheppey fraudster involved in car cash scam ordered to pay back £6,000 despite owning Porsche

A Sheppey fraudster – who took part in a £1million-plus scam involving 119 victims – will have to repay less than £6,000, even if he can get his Porsche fixed.

Carl Carolan, 32, and five pals were caught in a police crackdown – nicknamed Operation Warship.

Victims were tricked into handing over cash for vehicles which were never delivered.

Now under the Proceeds of Crime Act, Carolan has been ordered to hand over his assets of £5,924 within six weeks or face a three-month jail term.

His barrister, Goodrun Young QC, told Maidstone Crown Court that among his possessions is a Porsche which has been valued as £500 for scrap.

She said Carolan was hoping to get the vehicle fixed when it could be sold for more and the money seized would be shared among the victims of the £1.13m scam “pro rata”.

He was arrested after an investigation was started by police in Kent and Essex which tied the gang to multiple websites created between 2013 and 2017, linked to 44 bogus car businesses.

Visitors to the pages – which were filled with fake reviews – would receive details including refund guarantees and discounts for prompt commitment, before transferring money to a number of bank accounts.

Carolan, of The Broadway in Minster, received a suspended sentence for his role in the scam.

Gang boss Blake Paterson, of Curchin Close, Westerham was jailed for seven-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud and one of money laundering,

All six have now been ordered to hand over their assets which will be used to compensate the victims.