THE husband of former Great British Bake Off winner Jo Wheatley has been ordered to pay back more than £720,000 of the fortune he amassed as part of a £60m money laundering operation.
Professional gambler Richard Wheatley, 45, of Magdalen Laver, near Ongar, was jailed for seven years in 2010 for helping convert dirty money through a bureau de change run by 29-year-old Charith Abeysinghege.
Known as The Bear on the international poker circuit, Wheatley admitted acting as a conduit between crooks and Abeysinghege by delivering satchels of suspected drug money to the Sri Lankan's business in Woodford.
Wheatley's wife won the Great British Bake Off competition in 2011.
Last week, a slimmed-down Wheatley appeared at Southwark Crown Court, where he was ordered to repay his criminal profits.
He wore a navy polo shirt, jeans, and grey running shoes during his appearance in the dock.
Judge Gregory Stone QC ordered Wheatley to repay £723,475 out of the £743,331 he received for his role in the operation.
He added that Wheatley must pay back the cash within six months or face a further four-and-a-half years in jail.
Abeysinghege was told he must repay £161,325 of his £735,891 cut of the criminal profits.
After winning the Great British Bake Off, Jo Wheatley opened her own bakery school.
She has also released her own book of home baking recipes.
Wheatley and Abeysinghege, of Alderton Rise, Loughton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conceal, convert, or transfer the proceeds of crime on or before February 2, 2010.
Abeysinghege, a Sri Lankan film director, was locked up for seven years.
