A man convicted of mortgage fraud has been ordered to pay more than £9m - the largest confiscation ever by Kent police.

Jean-Pierre Beste, 49, from Rochester, and formerly of Wrotham Road, Meopham pleaded guilty in September 2010 to fraud offences, and was sentenced in March last year to three years in jail.

But he was said to have benefited from his crime to the tune of £9,427,123, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

Now, unless he pays the amount in full in six months, he will have to serve a further 10 years behind bars.

The court heard Bestel has a portfolio of around 70 properties which he owns.

Detective Inspector Mark Fairhurst, said: "This demonstrates the committed approach of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate in ensuring criminals do not benefit from the proceeds of their criminality.

"Offenders will be pursued even when released from prison to ensure their assets are taken from them."