A GWENT couple who conned a 89-year-old pensioner out of more than £50,000 are to pay back less than £2,000.

Stephen Courtney, 52 and Jacqueline Courtney, 49, formerly of The Woodlands, Penygarn, are currently serving four-year prison sentences after being found guilty of dishonestly abusing their positions as carers of 89-year-old Marion Holland.

When they were sentenced in August, Judge Stephen Hopkins QC called them “among the most appalling people I have ever met.”

They transferred £54,568.01 of Mrs Holland’s money to themselves over 12 months.

DC Louise Holl said following the convictions that Mrs Holland would hopefully get some money back from the sale of couple’s home and other assets. But, it was yesterday calculated they own property worth around £1,600.

At a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing last month, Jacqueline Courtney was ordered to pay back £3,377, which was calculated from the £1,777 equity she owned in the couple’s house and estimating the values of her two cars at £1,600.

Mr Courtney was ordered to pay back £1,777, from his share in the house.

A further hearing at Newport Crown Court yesterday heard the couple have since had their house repossessed, meaning their only assets are Jacqueline Courtney’s cars.

Defence barrister Ieuan Bennett made an application on the defendants’ behalf to reduce the confiscation order against them by £1,777 each.

He said: “The house has now been repossessed because no mortgage was being paid.

“The defendants have no equity at all in the property and may even owe the mortgage company.

“They don’t have £1,777 each to meet the confiscation order demands.”

The only money the pair will nowpay back is whatever they get for the cars, estimated to be around £1,600.

Judge David Morris said Gwent Police’s financial crimes unit will now be given details of the repossession and a chance to comment before another hearing is arranged.

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Hardly justice

IT’S simply appalling to see an elderly woman who was conned out of more than £50,000 get just £2,000 back.

Stephen and Jacqueline Courtney were described by a judge as “among the most appalling people I have ever met” when they were jailed for four years.

At a hearing yesterday, a court was told that because of a series of incidents involving the couple’s finances, only £2,000 will be repaid. We have seen this time and again in similar cases.

Yes, they got four years, but they will probably be out in two and free to get on with their lives.

The old woman they conned lost everything.