A dealer found in possession of 58 wraps of heroin has been ordered to pay back £680 despite making £18,000 from selling class A drugs. He and a co-dealer were caught after speeding off from police in a black BMW.
Matthew Read and Jonathan Hayton were stopped and searched by police in Aberdare on December 1, 2021, when heroin and cash were seized from their car. Hayton was also found found with further amounts of heroin and a phone in his underpants.
Thousands of pounds in cash were also discovered at addresses linked to the defendants during searches conducted by officers from South Wales Police's Operation Sceptre team. Forensic analysis of phones revealed messages relating to the sale of heroin.
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A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on January 17 last year heard a total of 58 wraps of heroin and £2,000 in cash was seized. Read, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of heroin, and was sentenced to six years imprisonment. Hayton, of Erw Las, Penywaun, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with intent to supply and was sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment.
At a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing at the same court on Thursday, Read was found to have benefited from drug dealing to the tune of £18,575, but only had assets worth £680. Recorder Greg Bull KC ordered Read to pay that sum within three months or serve three days imprisonment in default. A contested POCA hearing will be held in respect of Hayton on April 28.
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