DEFENDANTS with frozen assets will have to sell up and pay their own legal costs under new measures.

Details of the moves, which will save an estimated £3million a year in legal aid, were published by the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

It means assets frozen as the alleged proceeds of crime - including bank accounts, homes, cars and luxury goods - will have to be sold to pay legal expenses in civil recovery proceedings brought by the Assets Recovery Agency.

But restrictions will be in place to stop criminals frustrating the legal process by spending all their assets on legal fees.

Constitutional Affairs minister Bridget Prentice said: "Defendants must have appropriate legal representation in court, but crime must not pay.

"These measures will achieve a balance that will ensure that the taxpayer does not foot the bill for defendants who can afford to pay their own legal costs, while also ensuring that frozen assets are not misused to fund a `champagne defence'.

The changes come into force on January 1.