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3rd January 2020
Posted by Johnny Jenkins
A drug dealer, jailed after he was caught with more than £5,000 worth of cocaine, has been ordered to pay back nearly £67,000 of his criminal earnings.
Christopher England, 49, was ordered to pay back the money earnt from his drug dealing following a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing at Basildon Crown Court.
England of Felmores End, Pitsea was jailed for four years in August 2019 after he admitted possessing the Class A drug cocaine with intent to supply. After his conviction a financial investigation uncovered that he had cash assets of nearly £67,000 which are thought to have been the proceeds of his crime.
Following the POCA hearing investigating officer PC Adam Blackwell of the South Operation Raptor team said:
“This case not only demonstrates that we arrest drug dealers and puts them behind bars, but it also shows the lengths that Essex Police and our criminal justice partners will go to, to ensure criminals do not benefit from their crimes.
“Drug dealers think they can make a living from other people’s misery, but while the substances they sell line their pockets in the meantime they tear apart lives, families and communities.
“Operation Raptor and Essex Police will continue to do all we can to pursue every legal avenue open to us to put these ruthless individuals behind bars and ensure they do not profit from their crimes.”
At the earlier hearing,the court heard England was stopped by officers in Rectory Road, Pitsea in February after he was involved in a collision with another motorist, who followed him after suspecting England had given them false insurance details.
When officers arrived they suspected England was under the influence of drugs and he tested positive for cocaine and cannabis.
He was arrested and taken to Basildon police station where he was found to be hiding 131grams of cocaine, worth more than £5,000, in his sock.
Essex Police set up Operation Raptor teams in the North, South and West of the county to tackle drug and gang-related crime.
If you have information about drug or gang-related crime in your community contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The POCA hearing took place at Basildon Crown Court on Friday December 20.