A WOMAN who was convicted of mortgage fraud has been told she faces 14 months in jail if she does not hand over the £28,000 proceeds of her crime.

In November last year at Bolton Crown Court, Alison Sandford, aged 45, of Bolton Road, was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, after admitting declaring a false income on a mortgage application.

Her husband, 42-year-old Robert Sandford, was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to conceal, convert and possess criminal property and a further charge of possessing cocaine.

Police had found a hoard of jewellery, luxury watches and cash, together worth £1 million in the loft at the couple’s home.

Sandford told officers he had been keeping the stash of goods and cash for a Blackburn jeweller to help him avoid paying £250,000 of tax on undeclared watch sales.

At a proceeds of crime hearing at Bolton Crown Court Alison Sandford was told she must hand over £28,000 within six months or go to jail.

A separate hearing will be held on May 2 when it will be established how much money Robert Sandford made from his crime which should be confiscated.

The court heard he is due to be freed from prison in the next few weeks.