EFFORTS are under way to recover assets of crime from a fraudulent funeral director, who has admitted stealing money from the families of elderly people.

Christopher Westcott, 51, is awaiting sentence in the New Year for theft of amounts between £1,125 and £1,695, from five clients of Cathedral Funeral Services.

The money was taken from pre-paid funeral plan instalments made to the business, based in Framwellgate Moor, Durham, before it ceased trading in 2003.

Westcott has admitted five counts of theft, and a further three charges of obtaining sums of £357, £613 and £5,000, from bank employees by deception, all in October and November 2003.

Sentence has been adjourned until January 20 for psychiatric and probation service reports to be drawn up on Westcott.

A judge at Durham Crown Court bailed him to live at an address in Smith Close, Sherburn Village, near Durham, after his last appearance, on November 21.

The Crown Prosecution Service has now begun proceeds of crime proceedings against Westcott, in a bid to recover some of his former clients' money.

He has to furnish details of any income, employment over the last six years, bank accounts, and assets, including realisable property, to the prosecution.

Judge Richard Lowden agreed to the prosecution application at Durham Crown Court, last Friday. However, he agreed to allow Westcott until January 13, a week before he is due to return to court for sentence, to provide the relevant information.