Morecambe brothers who stole thousands from fruit machines at Charnock Richard M6 services must pay some of the cash back

Denver Peel, 36, of Morecambe Road, Lancaster, and Dale Peel, 33, of West End Road, Morecambe, targeted gambling machines at the Welcome Break services at Charnock Richard services on the M6 near Chorley on two occasions in 2017.

Both have admitted theft of £8,800.50.

Dale Peel was previously given a 12 month community order with 160 hours' unpaid work, while Denver Peel was handed a 10 month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with 200 hours' unpaid work, a rehabilitation activity requirement and a six-month alcohol treatment programme.

Confiscation orders brought under the Proceeds of Crime Act are sometimes made after a court conviction to deprive criminals of the benefits of their crimes.

Under Proceeds of Crime legislation (POCA), the authorities can also revisit a convicted criminal’s assets and finances in the future.

Peter Barr, prosecuting, told a Proceeds of Crime hearing at Preston Crown Court that the duo had benefited from their crimes to the tune of £9,154.54.

Judge David Potter ruled Denver Peel had £8,604.54 of realisable assets available for the courts to seize, and that Dale Peel had £550 assets.

He made an order for the pair to pay these amounts - which will be given to Welcome Break as compensation.

The order means if they do not pay within a set time, Denver will face five months in prison and Dale will have to serve two months.

Even then both would still be liable to pay what's owed.