A convicted romance fraudster has been ordered to pay back more than £30,000 to his victim.

Kye Hughes defrauded his lover, who he had met online, after impressing her by telling her he was a musician and invested in luxury watches for extra money.

The 35-year-old said he bought the watches at trade price before selling them for retail price and convinced the woman if she invested, she would double her money.

She initially handed over £105,000 believing the scheme was legitimate but Hughes became persistent stating he needed more funds while promising a return on her investment.

The woman ended up taking out payday loans, sold her car and sent him more than £175,000 in total.

When her return never materialised, she reported the fraud to the police and Hughes, of Maidstone Road, Rochester, was arrested in September 2019.

Following a complex investigation, he was charged with fraud by false representation and money laundering.

He pleaded guilty and was jailed for three years and four months at Maidstone Crown Court on October 2, last year.

The court was told Hughes was funnelling some of the money into his personal account and had blown £80,000 on "lifestyle" purchases including £5,400 at jewellers, holiday trips to Portugal and Turkey and £1,200 on Louis Vuitton products.

The judge also ordered an investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover some of the money.

Financial investigators found Hughes held assets totalling £32,144 and applied for a confiscation order for compensation to be paid to the victim.

At a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday (September 27), the order was granted.

Hughes has three months to pay or face another 12 months in prison, however, will still have to repay the amount.

Detective Inspector David Godfrey said: “Our work does not stop at the point of conviction, we will always do everything we can to get as much money as possible back for victims.

“In this case, the woman was left heartbroken and under serious financial strain after being defrauded out of her life savings.

“I hope the compensation from the confiscation order will go towards helping her in the recovery of this ordeal.”