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When John Darwin pretended he'd drowned in his canoe off Seaton Carew he and his wife were all set to scam £250,000 pounds in insurance and start a new life in .

but the police used the to slap the devious couple with a . Why? because their ill gotten gains were invested and turned in a tidy profit. Under the law it was all up for grabs.

The Act allows the authorities to not only recover any amount made in the actual crime but also any subsequent gain it makes.

Interestingly the police, and some other authorities who can use this power - such as trading standards, can also rifle through a convict's bank accounts and can legally "assume" any other income was not legitimate and seize that too.

For Detective Inspector David Turnbull at this is a great piece of legislation. It means when a convict comes out of jail he can't return to the life of luxury he might have built up on a life of crime.

It's up to the criminal to prove each and every bit of their income is clean or else it could be confiscated. In effect you're guilty until you can prove you're innocent.

That's how the two people we featured - a dodgy DVD seller and a pharmacist who over-claimed prescription charges - ended up with crippling demands for money. Both agreed they should be punished for breaking the law, but they were distraught that their lives were being crushed for offences that were of low value.

such as drugs barons where it hurts - in their pockets.

Some people such as Sunderland solicitor Nigel Barnes fear this law is being used disproportionately. recently the power to seize assets and freeze bank accounts may be extended to other authorities with no real debate.

What's your take on this? Do criminals deserve everything the justice system can throw at them or should the punishment always match the crime? Please add your comments.

For more info on the other stories we covered see the previous blog.

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