A CONMAN who was jailed for scamming vulnerable victims out of family heirlooms worth more than £300,000 will only pay back £1 of the money.

Daniel Clelland, 44, was jailed for five and a half years in April after targetting his victims.

He offered to sell their most prized and valuable possessions, but failed to pass on the proceeds or return the treasured goods.

Clelland, who opened an antiques shop called the Dolls House, in Harwich, and another called Scrooge, in Manningtree, was described by prosecutors as a “persistent fraudster”.

He admitted six counts of fraud by false representation, carried out between April 1, 2015, and February 9, 2016.

Among the haul of heirlooms was a 52-year stamp collection, while one victim was conned into handing over £32,000 in cash.

It is unlikely his victims will ever see their money returned.

Those who fell prey to Clelland’s fraud include Patricia and Kenneth Silburn, who both died before they could see justice done.

During a proceeds of crime hearing held at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, Judge David Turner QC heard Clelland had made a criminal benefit of £404,108.

But looking at his assets, it was revealed he only had £1 available to pay back.

Judge Turner passed an order giving Clelland, who was not present in court for the hearing, seven days to pay the £1.

He agreed if Clelland was to come into any money in the future, the order would be amended to seek compensation for the victims.

The victims were all from the Harwich and Manningtree area and include Eileen and Alan Tyrer, who are aged in their 80s, retired antiques dealer Thomas Cooper, stamp and sword collector Stephen Home.

Victim Richard Browning-Smith, from Manningtree, previously read out a victim impact statement at Clelland’s sentencing hearing.

He revealed how he handed over £32,000 to the fraudster as part of a supposed joint venture between the pair.

“I suffer with bipolar and following the death of my father in 2015, I met Clelland and was in a vulnerable position,” he said.

“I feel let down by him and find it difficult to trust people now.

“He was such a convincing con artist.

“He knew I had a large amount of money and groomed me to con me of it.”

Clelland defrauded his victims out of valuable and sentimental items including First World War medals, rare Japanese swords, watches, jewellery and a coin collection.