A JAILED security boss has been ordered to pay more than £63,000 from the proceeds of his criminal activity.

Christopher Catchpole, formerly of Pro-Lock Security Limited based in Durham, was sentenced to 32 months in prison at Teesside Crown Court in June 2017 for operating as an unlicensed security firm.

Following a lengthy investigation, he was convicted of money laundering, supplying an unlicensed security operative and acting as the director of a security company without a Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence.

Following a proceeds of crime hearing, Catchpole has been ordered to pay back £63,628 within three months or face an additional nine months in prison.

Dave Humphries, SIA Director of Partnerships and Interventions, said: “The successful results of this prosecution will reassure the public that we will continue to work with the police to ensure compliance with the law.

"It is important that Mr Catchpole was pursued under Proceeds of Crime legislation, to recover the benefit he gleaned from his actions.”

The case was the result of a lengthy investigation involving the SIA and the North East Regional Asset Recovery Team (RART).

The North East RART used their powers under the Private Security Industry Act to obtain information relating to the conduct of Catchpole and his security business.

As a result, the SIA investigation team provided evidence in court that Catchpole’s activities had deprived legitimate security companies of £1.1 million of business.

Detective Sergeant Thomas Maughan, from the North East Regional Asset Recovery Team, said: “Christopher Catchpole’s company, Pro-Lock Security, has traded illegally from the outset. Although his companies received more than £1million since 2013, his illegal trading started years before.

"He requested a SIA licence application but never applied. He has showed a complete disregard for SIA licensing which exists to keep such people out of the private security business, so the public are not put at risk.”

Catchpole is also subject to a Serious Crime Prevention Order, which will come into effect once he is released from prison. The order includes a condition that he must not have a role in any business relating to security.