A man found with cocaine in a coffee tin in his Mercedes has been ordered to pay back more than £50,000 of the money he made through drug-dealing.
Martin Bradshaw, from Wigan, was jailed in February 2022 after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, possession with intent to supply a class A controlled drug and facilitating the acquisition/possession of criminal property. A court heard how the 33-year-old was first spotted by police 'driving erratically' in his Mercedes Benz on February 5, 2020.
Bradshaw sped off from the scene but the car was found shortly after on Higher Lane in Aspull. Due to intelligence linking the vehicle to the supply of drugs, officers later forced entry into the vehicle and seized bank cards and a coffee tin containing cocaine.
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Two burner phones, which contained details linking to drug supply, were also seized. On June 7, Bradshaw handed himself in at Wigan Police Station and was subsequently arrested.
It was discovered that Bradshaw had purchased a static caravan in Blackpool using money likely gained from the supply of drugs. The caravan and the Mercedes were both seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Bradshaw was jailed for three years and six months in February last year. He was also banned from driving for three years and nine months.
On Thursday (April 27), he was ordered to pay back the money gained through his drug-dealing enterprise at a court hearing. He must pay back £51,667.88.
Detective Inspector Patrick Wood of GMP's Wigan District Tasking Team, said: "We're pleased with today's result - and hopefully this sends a powerful message to those thinking they can get away with this type of offending, criminal actions have severe consequences.
"We will continue to work diligently to remove criminal proceeds from the hands of those who seek to profit from it, and I'd like to thank the public for continuing to support our work by reporting and sharing information. If you see something, or suspect something is wrong, tell us, and we can do something about it."
Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Information can also be submitted via LiveChat at www.gmp.police.uk or via the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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