Cash confiscated from drug dealer under POCA

A convicted drug dealer has today been issued with a confiscation order to the value of thousands of pounds under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).

During a hearing in August last year William Hall pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis and abstracting electricity.

He was sentenced to a two-year suspended sentence, ordered to carry out unpaid work and was also to be the subject of a curfew order.

When officers executed a warrant at a property associated with Hall in Kegworth in August 2020 they discovered more than 100 cannabis plants.

The premises had been professionally set up with air conditioning units, lighting and hydroponics. Officers also discovered that the electricity had been bypassed at the meter.

Following his conviction an application was submitted to the courts to confiscate assets being held in the name of 29-year-old Hall. The assets are believed to represent the proceeds from his criminality.

Today (Friday 19 August) the court ordered Hall of Butthole Lane, Shepshed, Leicestershire, to pay £59,078.92 under POCA.

PC Steve Harrison of North West Leicestershire Neighbourhood Policing Area (NPA), said: “Our efforts to stop criminal activity doesn’t just stop at conviction. The police have the powers to apply to the court to confiscate property or assets believed to be accrued as a result of the defendant’s criminality.

“We are pleased that the court have agreed to grant the confiscation order and if Hall fails to pay the value of the order he may face a custodial sentence of 12 months.

“We will continue to use this legislation and ensure those who choose to take the path of criminality should not be allowed to benefit from their crimes.”