A DODGY diesel dealer from Wall Heath has been handed a bill for £42,000 at a Proceeds of Crime hearing.

Gavyn Jewkes pocketed thousands of pounds selling kerosene instead of diesel to unsuspecting customers on his forecourt on the Central Trading Estate in Shaw Road, Dudley.

The 34-year-old had benefitted from the fiddle to the tune of £42,000, Amy Jackson prosecuting told Wolverhampton Crown Court.

She said an investigation revealed Jewkes, of Claydon Road, had available assets including property, two vehicles and a "cherished" registration plate.

They were all valued at £42,000 and Recorder Richard Bond made a confiscation order against Jewkes in the full amount giving him six months to pay with 15 months imprisonment in default.

Miss Jackson said the amount was significantly less than the figure set out in papers in the case but it was accepted the business had been run for a long period of time by his father David Jewkes.

That meant the money liable to be paid by Jewkes for the crooked scheme had been greatly reduced, she told the court.

Michael Anning for Jewkes said he would need time to come up with the money because the property and the registration plate - valued at around £10,000 - still needed to be put onto the market.

Jewkes had admitted dodging duty on the fuel sales and he was given a 12 month jail term at Shrewsbury Crown Court suspended for two years.

He had further been ordered by the judge to carry out 240 hours unpaid work in the community.

The court had been told it was a family business initially run by David Jewkes and Gavyn had no idea of the proportion of kerosene that was being sold as diesel.

After the death of his father Gavyn Jewkes continued the con although it was maintained not all the purchases made on his forecourt were illegal.

The scam was uncovered by customs officers who tested fuel leaving Jewkes' filling station which, the court was told, is no longer in business.