A 49-year-old woman has been ordered to pay back £256,000 after she was convicted of money laundering.

Julie Lanfear, of Littleton Panell, near Devizes, appeared at Winchester Crown Court for the confiscation proceedings last week.

It took place three months after her partner, John Wildman, had £269,758.25 assets confiscated from him under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, in relation to his car dealership Urchfont Motors.

Lanfear has been ordered to pay the money within three months, or face the possibility of a default sentence of four years in prison.

Financial investigator Andrew Stonell said: “Lanfear’s case leads on from John Wildman’s conviction.

“I believe that this case demonstrates that we do follow the money and we do seek to, and are successful in, removing the financial proceeds from criminal activity.

“It is vitally important that criminals do not benefit financially from their crimes and enjoy lavish lifestyles most honest hardworking people can only dream of. Lanfear has been enjoying personal spending on credit cards and expensive foreign holidays.

“I am satisfied with the result at court which requires both Lanfear and her partner at the time of the fraudulent activity, Wildman, to hand over the proceeds of ill-gotten gains.”