Drug dealers may be forced to sell up

FOUR convicted drug dealers could be forced to sell their homes following a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing.

They include Adam Hewlett (26), of Barmouth Walk, Hollinwood, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in July and was jailed for four years.

At a hearing at Bolton Crown Court, he was ordered to repay £3,000 based on the equity in his home and cash seized on his arrest.

Hewlett was one of four drug dealers jailed following an operation by Greater Manchester Police’s Drug Unit and police in Bury where up to a quarter-of-a-million pounds worth of cocaine was seized. Paraphernalia used to prepare and distribute drugs in large quantities was also recovered.

Michael Christopher Abbott (30), of Carmona Drive, Prestwich, was jailed for eight years and eight months; Paul Waren Bott (42), of Merton Road, Prestwich, for seven years and four months; and Ryan Dunn (30), of Gerald Road, Charlestown, Salford, to six years and three months.

At the POCA hearing, the quartet were found to have benefited to the sum of £203,316. They were ordered to repay a total of £42,005 after financial investigators identified that Abbott has £15,000 equity in his house and Bott £24,000 equity in his. Both will have to sell their homes to realise their equity. Failure to pay will result in a further prison sentence.

In April, 2010, GMP’s Serious Crime Division’s Drug Unit launched Operation Wrap to target a Prestwich organised-crime group involved in illegal drug importation and distribution, exposing the activities of Abbott — the organisation’s head — his lieutenant Bott, Hewlett and Dunn.

Detective Inspector Glen Jones said: “The GMP Drugs Unit unmasked this organised-crime group — disrupting a criminal network which involved bringing large quantities of drugs into Greater Manchester and then preparing them for widespread distribution.

“All four of these men were jailed and are now serving lengthy sentences. But prison is just one punishment for these men, and thanks to Proceeds of Crime Act legislation we are able to hit these men in their wallets, ensuring that they cannot cling on to the cash or assets they have amassed by breaking the law.

“In this case, these men will have to realise the equity in their properties in order to meet their repayments and may very well end up selling their homes — sending a powerful message about the dire consequences of getting involved with selling drugs.”