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Justice needn’t end with the slamming shut of cell doors.

Even when criminals have been locked away, the nature of the crime leaves the public with a nagging doubt that full justice has not been served.

It’s why the proceeds of crime act has been welcomed by the public.

And the case of the Sunderland College fraudsters we highlight today is the perfect example of what could be termed full justice.

This sophisticated £400,000 scam saw the college duped out of more than £300,000 and training firm Springboard fleeced of around £100,000.

In some eyes, catching the perpetrators and putting them behind bars would be seen as justice served.

But the scam had more far reaching effects than simply diverting money.

The emotional cost to those scammed was high, particularly for the work of the charity.

The training charity was forced into closure with the loss of 40 jobs. That’s 40 livelihoods put under immense pressure and uncertainty. It’s a cost that cannot be measured in pounds and pence.

Today we reveal that two of the fraudsters, Joanne Mounter and Paula Bolan who were jailed for their part in the scam, have been ordered to hand over their cash ... or face more years behind bars. Too right.

We are told the pair have assets in excess of £100,000 each. They have lost their liberty, but they should still payback the money they swiped.

Both the college and the charity deserve to see the criminals jailed and as much of the money they lost recouped.

Justice doesn’t have to end with the slamming of a cell door. Pay the money back.