Dean McEvilly, 37, has been described by police as a 'blight on the community' of Bolton.
Police figures show McEvilly, a drug addict of Southfield Street, Bolton, has a total of 88 criminal offences on his record.
Described by police as a 'prolific burglar', he has convictions from 1984. The last conviction came in October last year when he was jailed for 26 weeks for burglary.
Police launched a probe into McEvilly's crimes and an investigation was launched under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Assets
Investigators delved through his assets and out-going payments and estimated how much money he made through crime.
Bolton crown court was told that he had spent £18,000 on heroin and cocaine between 2002 and 2008.
The court heard that he committed crime to fund his habit.
Police told the court that he received 10 per cent of the cost of goods he stole, meaning he must have stolen items worth around £180,000 over that period of time.
McEvilly - who has convictions for burglary, shoplifting and thefts from cars - claimed he funded the drugs through his benefit entitlements.
The £50,000 figure was accepted by the court because his only realisable asset is a house he inherited from his father. It has been valued at £50,000.
Police said he has up to 12 months to pay the sum - or risk being jailed for 18 months.
Debt
If jailed, his debt would still stand.
Greater Manchester Police financial investigator Tony Wood said despite being jailed several times, McEvilly 'continued to be a blight on the community of Bolton'.
Mr Wood said: "I have no doubt that his offending was to pay for his drug habit and today is about getting some of that money back and reinvesting it in the fight against drug-related crime.
"Today's result shows our investigations don't stop once a defendant has been sentenced. We are determined to pursue criminals who benefit financially from crime and ensure that not only are they convicted, but we will do everything in our power to make sure they cannot benefit from their illegal gains either now or in the future." Tweet
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This sort of crime is not before time "make the criminal pay back"Like people who have their cars stolen and wrecked ,if they claim off the insurance the victim has to pay more on his insurance (this cannot be right) through no fault of his own the victim has to pay for the criminals actions...Time to send a message out that if you steal from people you will pay every penny back.(unpaid work,Theives goods sold etc).
88 convictions - it beggers the question as to why this thief isn't in prison already! Justice in this country is a joke.
They should start off by reposessing his home not "could ultimately lose his home". Look at those unfortunate families who, through mismanagement of the banks and the government have lost their jobs and then their homes, they didn't deserve it, HE does. There are plenty of council houses available according to the story on here recently, they could put him in one of those while he considers the direction in life he's heading.
Who will the money go to, those who have had to pay extra premiums for claiming off their insurances after the burglary. The insurance companies or the police benevolent fund?
I think the proceeds should be given to the people who suffered the losses where it can be proven and only the remainder should be reinvested. It is time we looked after the victims of crime rather than have the attitude of "tough luck". In a lot of cases some old dear has lost her video recorder and can't afford to replace it but the attitude seems to be that it is your own resposibility to insure it, what about the people who can't afford insurance because crime is so prolific in their area.
We should of taken his house of him already and he should be dangling from a tree, he has been a low life for numerous years so lets put him out of our our world
And the Elephant man wants his looks back whilst your at it.
I think the liberal left attitude of kid glove treatment has been shown to have utterly failed, it's time to take a stronger line and bring back the birch. It's cheap to administer and puts the fear of God into criminals. While it's not going to stop all the low life scum from offending, it'll certainly reduce the numbers and that's a result!
thoughtful, East of Manchester
Im in full agreement with you and so are a lot of right thinking people.and any money that is taken off this scum should be put into a account so that people who loose money and goods because of this low life wont have to claim off their insurance,So maybe we could get this scum working to put into the community pot.Until all the money is paid back and then maybe it will slow crime down.
With his number of convictions and his reliance on drugs for nte number of years stated..why in Gods name is he not on the gallows where he belongs....