At a hearing yesterday (27 July), Burford was instructed to pay the total value of assets Southwark Crown Court determined were available to be recovered. Together with payments previously made by Burford to investors, an estimated 99% of the money originally invested by the 70 known victims will be returned. The regulator found he repeatedly misled investors about fund performance, concealed losses and used their money for personal gain, including buying a property. Steve Smart, executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said: “Mr Burford scammed investors to fund his own lavish lifestyle. Clawing back stolen money from fraudsters and returning it to victims sends a clear message that crime doesn’t pay.”