John Damon Gizzi a convicted gangster has been ordered to serve an extra seven years in jail after failing to repay £2.6m in criminal gains.

Millionaire builder John Gizzi, 36, from St Asaph, Denbighshire, was jailed for five and a half years in January 2006.

His £1.75m mansion has failed to sell despite the price being reduced by half a million. A New valuation has been carried out on his five-bed mansion, allowing it to be advertised at a much lower price of £1.3m by estate agents Strutt and Parker.

But later this month Gizzi's lawyers will ask the court to consider reducing the original proceeds of crime bill faced by the criminal - a move prompted by the collapse in property prices. This move they hope will lead to the additional seven years being scrapped.

At his trial in January 2006 Gizzi was described as a "thug" and "bully" who assaulted homeless people and preyed on the weak and vulnerable. He was said by police to have "ruled" Rhyl through threats and intimidations.

He was due to be released before Christmas after serving more than two-and-a-half years. However, he was also warned by the trial judge that he would have to repay £2.6m or face spending more time in prison.

That figure was imposed when Gizzi's main asset, Bronwylfa Hall, was valued at about £1.8m.

On Monday 8^th December 2008, DJ Shaw sitting at Llandudno Magistrates court ruled that Gizzi had failed to meet the deadline for repaying the cash, and must now serve an extra 2,712 days behind bars.

His defence solicitor, Hugh Edwards, told the court the sale of his former home and other properties was now imminent.

If the courts agree to reduce the outstanding £2.3m, and the property sales go through, the additional seven year sentence could be scrapped and Gizzi could be freed before Christmas.

A previous court hearing listed Gizzi's assets as including a Bentley Continental car valued at £116,000 and a Range Rover at £50,000.

He was also said to own a 16,000 Rolex watch and four personalised number plates JDG 1 to JDG 4 worth £45,000.

It was estimated he earned £1m from his illegal cigarette sales racket and that he spent £145,000 on gambling.