Notts drug dealer who made tens of thousands to pay back a fraction of it

A Nottinghamshire dealer who made more than £60,000 selling drugs on the streets has been ordered to pay back less than £5,000 of what he made. A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Nottingham Crown Court heard how the £4,948.70 Keiron Plastow has available is already in the possession of the police. His "benefit figure" was £62,156.43, Judge Stuart Raffertu was told.

As such he ordered that sum to be confiscated. But Plastow’s co-defendant, who the prosecution claim made over £330,000 from his illegal enterprise, says that valuation is much higher than what he actually made and is contesting his hearing.

The Proceeds of Crime Act (or POCA) allows the police to apply for cash to be seized from criminals who have made their money from ill-gotten gains. It is typically used after drug dealers have been sentenced and can see criminals forced to sell properties, cars or jewellery that belong to them to pay the cash back.

The money that is seized is usually split 50-50 between the police and the Government and is often used to fund community projects. Importantly, if a convicted criminal comes into money later in life that he or she does not currently have, police can still apply to have that seized.

At their original sentencing hearing earlier this year, the court heard how Steven Taylor and Plastow were driving through Mansfield when they were pulled over by police in Titchfield Street on November 29, last year. Officers’ suspicions were roused by the amount of cash the pair were carrying – particularly by the near £2,000 Taylor had in his possession.

Both men were arrested on suspicion of being in possession of criminal property and taken into custody. Searches were later carried out at two properties in nearby Wellow Close where a large amount of drugs including cocaine and cannabis were found.

Also uncovered during the searches were individual deal bags, weighing scales, a lock knife and a knuckle duster. Both men pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply cocaine and cannabis.

Plastow, 25, of Kedleston Walk, Mansfield, also admitted to possessing an offensive weapon in a private place. Taylor, 28, of Wellow Close, also in Mansfield, admitted to being concerned in the supply of ecstasy and cannabis, and possessing criminal property.

They were jailed for four years and five and a half years respectively. Following the sentencing, PC Chelsea Seals of Nottinghamshire Police said: “The vehicle these two men were travelling in was pulled over by officers in an intelligence-led stop.

“At a time when most people carry very little money on them, the amount of cash in their possession raised a lot of questions that were subsequently [answered] with the discovery of large amounts of illegal drugs. These were found in quantities that could never be explained way by personal use and could only point to organised drug dealing.

“I am pleased these two offenders have now been jailed and hope this sentence serves as a warning to others about the consequence of dealing drugs.”

Taylor’s POCA hearing will take place in early January.