A FATHER and two sons who made a small fortune from selling scrap metal on an illegal site have been ordered to pay back �152,500.

Cambridge Crown Court told the family trio of sons David and George Loveridge and their father John Smith that if they refused to pay they would face further time in jail.

The court was told the case involved “deliberate, repeated and persistent breaches of the law”.

The court was told that David Loveridge, 51, of Plains Lane, Littleport, had benefitted by �1,000,000 as a result of the illegal activity.

He was told that he would have to pay back �50,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act and should he fail to pay it back within six months he faces an 18 month prison sentence in default and still remain liable upon his release.

His father, John Smith, 80, and owner of the illegal site at Cophall Farm, Little Downham, was deemed to have benefitted by �150,000 and was told that he must pay back �100,000 within six months or face two more years in prison.

George Loveridge, 47 of Ely Road, Stretham, who, despite not being a prime mover, was made to pay �2,500 as he had benefitted by �5,000 as a result of his part in the illegal enterprise.

In each case, the debt will remain until it is paid and further confiscations up the value of the benefit could be made in future.

Smith and his sons were sentenced in September 2011 for running the yard in a manner likely to harm to human health.

David Loveridge was jailed for 15 months; George Loveridge got nine months and Smith was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

Cophall Farm used trading names Pymoor Skip Hire, AB Scrap Metal Dealers and A-B Cars Wanted.