A MORTGAGE adviser who had a haul of stolen vehicles at his farm-house could be jailed if he fails to pay back £75,000 of his ill-gotten gains.

Jason Phillips, 36, walked free from court in April, despite admitting six counts of handling stolen goods.

The defendant, of New Laithe Farm, Hollin Hall, Trawden, was given a 12-month community order, with 80 hours unpaid work, and must pay £250 costs.

But yesterday he appeared at Burnley Crown Court in a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing and was told he must pay back £75,700 in the next six months, or face 18 months in jail.

Phillips initially told police he didn’t know the haul was stolen, and said he had bought the six vehicles from a man he believed to be perfectly honest, but who he refused to name.

Phillips, who later owned up, had removed a sticker from a tractor, which had shown it had belonged to a building firm in Langho.

In August 2008, police found all the vehicles at the Phillip’s property, which was under renovation at the time.

On August 18 or 19 that year, a tractor was stolen from Nicholas Clarkson Construction, in Langho.

It was seen by somebody near the defendant’s farm-house on August 20, and police found it at the property along with a trailer, two quad bikes, a dumper truck and a digger.

They discovered the vehicles had been stolen from around the country in the previous two years.

The prosecution said the value of the vehicles was £83,500, although Phillips disputed the figure.

Phillips, who had no previous convictions and owns a number of properties, said he bought them for his own use round about the farm.

All the items had been returned to their owners.