Drug dealer ordered to repay £21,000 of illegal profits

Forty-four-year-old Frank Sines was also jailed for 30 months.
Reading Crown Court heard how Sines was arrested at an address in Hazeldene, Chieveley, on May 26 last year.
Police officers found quantities of ‘skunk’ cannabis, cocaine, and the illegal designer drug mephedrone, together with other items indicative of drug dealing activity.
Sines was driving a hired BMW, which was parked outside the property, and during a search of the car nearly £20,000 was found in the boot.
This was seized, along with a further quantity of cash which was in his trouser pocket. On the following day, a search of Sines’ home address in Bracknell revealed seven bars of cannabis resin, an imitation firearm and more cash.
On August 6 Sines, of Boole Heights, Bracknell, Surrey, admitted charges of possession of criminal property in respect of the cash, possession with intent to supply class B drugs, and possession of a firearm. He pleaded not guilty to several charges of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs, and these charges were ordered to remain on file.
A cash forfeiture hearing was then held at Reading Magistrates’ Court on 27 September, which was not contested.
The court made two forfeiture orders - one each for £20,190 and £1,105.
Financial Investigator for Thames Valley Police’s Economic Crime Unit, Phillip Croxson, said: “The Proceeds of Crime legislation is a powerful tool to remove criminal property earned from drug dealing and other forms of crime. By removing cash from circulation, there is a disruptive element as well as a deterrent impact on criminals operating within the community.”