It is extremely satisfying to see that a large portion of the money made by three men selling high value stolen cars to Japan to be auctioned off has now been reclaimed by the courts.

Taqi Mir, his brother Mazhar Mir and Raees Khan, who were part of an international criminal ring dealing in prestige motors, including a Bentley, Porsches, BMWs and Audis, have had £170,000 of their assets stripped at a confiscation hearing.

The trio had already been imprisoned for the offences, but they have now also been ordered to give back their ill-gotten gains through a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing.

And it is another clear signal to those who think that they can commit the crime, do the time and then live off the money they stole that that is simply not going to happen anymore.

The Proceeds of Crime Act allows the courts to confiscate cash, property and luxury goods such as cars and boats to cover the money stolen by those convicted of theft and fraud.

It may take time, but police along with other agencies – Trading Standards in this case – will painstakingly investigate the assets of crooks until they find every penny they can claw back from them.

Even more gratifying is the fact that this money will now be used to prevent crime and tackle criminals. The act has brought in thousands and thousands of pounds from criminals in the Bradford district, and that should send out a very clear message to those who believe that crime pays.

Not only will they be punished by the court for the offences, but they are likely to see their homes sold off, their bank accounts plundered, and their chattels confiscated to repay the value of anything they made.