Jailed Carlisle drugs criminal to repay just £225 of his £34k profits
But a judge at the city’s crown court pointed out that 43-year-old Shaun Potts, who is currently serving a 36-month jail term for his cocaine related offending, will continue to be liable for the remainder of his criminal financial benefit.
The defendant, of Balfour Road, Carlisle, last year admitted being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug between August 7, 2022, and October 2024.
He was jailed for 36 months.
The defendant was put back before the city’s crown court for a Proceeds of Crime hearing, at which the prosecution applied to strip the defendant of his ill-gotten gains.
After considering the findings of a police investigation of the defendant’s finances, and his benefit from the drugs trade, Judge Michael Fanning ruled that Potts benefitted to the tune of £34,000.
But the defendant’s only available assets are £225, police have confirmed. The judge ordered that this sum must now be forfeited.
If Potts fails to sign an approval for this, he will face a further one month in jail. The drugs that police seized during their investigation will be destroyed.
The defendant appeared before the court via a video link from the prison where he is currently serving his sentence.
Judge Fanning pointed out that the remainder of the defendant’s criminal debt is not written off but accumulates into the future as a result of interest.
Should the defendant acquire wealth in the future, he may still have to pay off that debt.
Comments (0)