A WOMAN who stole hundreds of thousands of pounds to fund a lavish lifestyle can pay only 15 per cent of it back.

Janine Pickett, aged 47, was jailed for 32 months last December after admitting she stole £375,000 from Dorset Lettings.

She re-appeared at Dorchester Crown Court for a confiscation hearing after an application under the Proceeds of Crime Act was submitted.

The court heard the prosecution and defence had come to an agreement prior to the hearing.

Taking note of Pickett’s available assets, both sides agreed she was only in a position to pay compensation amounting to £58,282.82.

This has to be paid by Thursday, October 1 or Pickett will face an additional term of imprisonment for two-and-a-half-years.

Pickett admitted fraud by abuse of position in May last year.

At the time, the court heard Pickett had taken the money from the Shaftesbury office of Dorset Lettings, which she ran under franchise.

Between January 2010 and November 2013, she stole £375,000 of customer deposits and rental payments from bank accounts she managed.

The prosecution said Pickett used the money to buy and look after Welsh ponies, with one costing in the region of £7,000.

In addition to this, Pickett also went on lavish holidays to Dubai and Florida and purchased a BMW car.

The court heard further investigations revealed Pickett had altered documents including bank statements and financial audit records in an attempt to cover up the theft.

Dorset Lettings is an ethical ARLA licensed agent, with client money protection insurance a condition of that license.

The company were able to make claims on behalf of all the landlords involved and facilitated the claims for tenants to get their deposits back.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “Janine Pickett appeared at Dorchester Crown Court for a confiscation hearing following her recent conviction for theft.

“Her benefit from criminal conduct was declared to be £375,000 – the amount she stole.

“She was ordered to repay £58,282.82 in compensation. This is the value of her available assets. She needs to pay this by October 1 or face a further two and a half years imprisonment.

“We are only able to confiscate the value of the assets currently holds, namely the £58,000. It is important to note that following the award of compensation, all the victims of the theft have been fully reimbursed, mostly as a result of the insurance held by the regulatory body.”

Detective Sergeant Andrew Kennard, of Dorset Police’s economic crime unit, said: “We will take every available opportunity to deprive criminals of their illegal gain. We hope this sends out a clear message to offenders that they will be dealt with through the courts and forces to pay for their crimes.”