The managing director of a Cambridgeshire company who exported over £3 million worth of banned products to Iran must repay £68,000 of “criminal profits”.

Peter Millroy, assistant director, criminal investigation, HMRC said: “Our work doesn’t stop with sentencing – we will pursue criminal profits to reclaim them for the taxpayer and the UK economy.”

Gary Summerskill, 54, of Burwell, must pay the money within six months or serve a further 15 months in jail. His company, Delta Pacific Manufacturing Limited of Soham, was ordered to pay £1,072,000.

Summerskill was jailed for 30 months in March after an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

During the investigation HMRC found he had attempted to conceal the illegal export of alloy valves to Iran. Alloy valves are currently subject to an export ban to various countries including Iran because of their potential to be used in the construction of weapons.

Mr Millroy said: “Summerskill knew that he was acting illegally – he manipulated a system which has been put in place to protect public safety simply to line his own pockets.

“He has not only paid the price by losing his liberty but he now has to pay back the money he has made from his criminal activities or face more time in jail.

Delta Pacific Manufacturing Limited made three illegal shipments of alloy valves, valued at £3.4 million, to Iran without an export licence. Summerskill attempted to skirt the ban by diverting the components through Hong Kong and Azerbaijan.

HMRC investigators found evidence that Summerskill was fully aware that the final destination of the goods was Iran and that they were subject to an export ban.

The confiscation order against Summerskill was made yesterday at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) in London.