A FORMER professional boxer who made more than £222,000 with a partner in a fraud involving a DIY store and eBay had assets totalling less than £4,000 confiscated.

Gareth Jordan, 33, of Elms Road, Raglan, appeared before Cardiff crown court when an application was made under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Jordan and Johnathan West, 34, of Cornwallace Way, Monmouth, had earlier admitted attempting to obtain property from B&Q by deception and obtaining property on eBay by deception. In October Jordan was sentenced to 12 months in prison for the offences. West was ordered to perform 180 hours of community service.

Prosecutor Robert Buckland said yesterday that the total benefit of the offences came to £222,805.

But, he added, there were assets of just £3,850, involving cash and a Volvo car, which could be confiscated.

The offences came to light, said Mr Buckland, as a result of an investigation by Gwent Police.

He said items were put up on the eBay site and sold, with cheques then sent for them. But the goods were not dispatched. The items included CD players, chargers, power tools, alarms, and Marks and Spencer and Ikea vouchers.

Mr Buckland said Jordan also tried to obtain property using false till receipts at B&Q stores in Bristol, Kidderminster and Birmingham. Detective Constable Angela Jones said she investigated Jordan's finances and examined his personal history and lifestyle.

She said he had a previous conviction for obtaining property by deception on 19 occasions and had received a 15-month prison sentence.

DC Jones said she had examined bank and building society accounts and discovered unexplained deposits totalling large amounts.

She said: "I have received no documents to challenge my findings." Judge Christopher Llewellyn Jones said he was satisfied from information before him that Jordan had a criminal lifestyle and ordered the confiscation of the £3,850. He also ordered him to pay £300 costs. If he does not pay these amounts he will serve three months, said the judge.

Jordan's boxing career spanned ten years up to 2002. A super-featherweight, he had a good record, racking up 17 wins in 21 fights. Eight of his wins were knockouts.