A MAN from Wokingham and a man from Sandhurst have been ordered to pay £31,000 in proceeds from crime.
Jason Thomas Stanbridge, aged 47 of Essame Close, Wokingham and Christopher Edward Watchorn, aged 45, of Acacia Avenue, Sandhurst, were charged with two counts of possessing a controlled drug of Class-B with intent to supply.
They were both arrested on September 7, 2014 following the execution of a warrant at an address in Wordsworth, Bracknell, and were found to be in possession of three kilogrammes of amphetamine and a quantity of cannabis resin.
Both men were convicted on February 26 last year, and were each sentenced to a total of 30 months’ imprisonment at Reading Crown Court on April 11, 2016.
Following their conviction confiscation proceedings were commenced under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. On Thursday (June 16) Her Honour Judge Cutts, sitting at Reading Crown Court, ordered that Watchorn pay £31,268.80 within three months of serve a default sentence of 18 months’ imprisonment.
Stanbridge was ordered to sell his only asset – a BMW car – and pay £420.00 within six weeks or serve a default sentence to three months’ imprisonment.
Financial Investigator Steve Tedder of Thames Valley Police’s Asset Recovery Team, Economic Crime Unit said: “This result sends a clear message to drug dealers in our communities that Thames Valley Police will use all powers available to them under the legislation to deprive criminals of their assets”.