A former bank employee who was jailed after he admitted stealing £40,000 from people’s accounts to fund the purchase of a house has been ordered to pay back £11,665.

Joshua Hull, of Blenheim Road, Ramsey, worked for Barclays in Huntingdon when he committed the fraud between May 2011 and November 2012.

He pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud by abuse of position and in October he was sentenced to 16 months in prison for each offence, to be served concurrently.

The 24-year-old was back at Peterborough Crown Court on Thursday (January 23) for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing.

Hull had targeted two account holders, stealing about £30,000 from one and about £10,000 from the other. He had changed address details and the frequency of statements to cover his fraudulent activity but was caught out after an internal audit prompted an investigation.

The total amount stolen was £40,099, which he used to help buy and furnish a house, as well as to fund his drug and gambling habits. He also made a loan to a friend and gave a substantial donation to charity.

A confiscation order was made for £11,665 – money that investigators say is tied up in Hull’s home which he may be forced to sell or remortgage. , The money has to be paid by July 22. Failure to pay will result in a further six months in prison.