A convicted fraudster was back in court after he was caught failing to comply with a Serious Crime Prevention Order (SCPO).

Christopher Heayns was jailed for more than nine years after he defrauded more than £500,000 out of people in a series of elaborate scams.

The 43-year-old was banned from having more than one bank account after he was released from custody after serving his sentence.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the defendant was now a legitimate businessman who employed up to 15 people to deliver fitness instruction to customers and other businesses.

Peter Sabiston, prosecuting, said the defendant admitted that he had opened unauthorised banking accounts to help to run his new business.

He said Heayns had been convicted after he had set up businesses and bank accounts using a number of aliases, including claiming that he was a barrister and someone of standing in the community.

Heayns, of Sheepfoote Hill, Yarm, pleaded guilty to the three breaches of his Serious Crime Prevention Order two years ago following his arrest in 2021.

Christopher Morrison, mitigating, said his client had paid his dues to society after serving time in prison for his previous offences and had married since he admitted he had breached the court order.

He said: “The previous history referred to, although it is egregious, it is that a history and the court has been fully addressed of the details of the original matters.

“It has to be observed that ‘grievously sinned but grievously paid for it’ – he received a total of nine and half years for that and was duly incarcerated for that.”

Mr Morrison said his client had studied for a master’s degree when he left prison and set up his own business as a sole trader.

He said the business has since grown and he now employees three full time members of staff and 12 freelancers.

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Recorder Andrew Sutcliffe KC told Heayns he was only being sentenced for the breaches of the court order following his early guilty pleas to the charges.

He said: “I take into account the fact that the business you now run is a successful business and you put all of your energies into that business and have turned a corner from your previous criminal behaviour.

“I don’t believe a sentence of immediate custody would be appropriate in these circumstances nor do I consider that a community order with requirements of unpaid work or supervision from the Probation Service would be appropriate.”

Heayns was sentenced to a six-month sentence suspended for 18 months to mark his guilty plea to the charges.