Man told to pay more than £800k for tractor thefts

Hristo Chenchev was found to have a "leading role" in a tractor theft operation in Oxfordshire

A member of a gang that stole a large number of high-value tractors has been ordered to pay back more than £800,000.

Hristo Chenchev, 48, of Churchbury Road, London, was part of a group that took the vehicles from Oxfordshire and removed them from the UK.

He was previously given a two-year suspended prison sentence and told to repay the money within three months at Oxford Crown Court.

Chenchev was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to conceal, disguise, convert, transfer and remove from England and Wales criminal property.

Thames Valley Police said between 1 April and 26 May 2020 the group arranged for the onward exportation and sale of the tractors to Bulgaria.

The force said he played "the leading part" and financially benefited from the offences.

Officers arrested him as the group was attempting to load stolen tractors onto the back of foreign lorries.

He was subject to a proceeds of crime act investigation and ordered to pay back a total of £873,852.48.

If he fails to he will face an additional seven years imprisonment.

Senior financial investigator Lucy Flynn said: "This case shows that if you involve yourself in this sort of criminality you can expect to not only be prosecuted, but also that you will have to pay back a significant amount of money."