A CONVICTED Bridport drug dealer has been ordered to pay back thousands of pounds following a court hearing.

William David Lewis, 25, had previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class B, possession of a controlled class C drug, possessing criminal property, two counts of possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class A and two counts of possession of a weapon for the discharge of a noxious liquid, gas or electrical incapacitation device.

At around 8 am on Friday, November 13 2020 officers from the neighbourhood policing team executed a warrant at an address in King Street, Bridport.

Officers located a substantial amount of drugs, cash as well and two CS gas canisters in the warrant. 

Mr Lewis was the only occupant within the property and was subsequently arrested.

Police seized £18,270 worth of cash as well as an estimated £78,000 worth of drugs.

Mr Lewis was sentenced to 30 months and three weeks in prison at Bournemouth Crown Court on Wednesday, March 2 2022. 

On Monday, February 20 2023 he returned for a hearing to consider an application under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).

During the POCA proceedings, the court ruled that the total benefit figure from Lewis’ offending amounted to £122,258.93, with the available amount of £27,270, which includes the cash seized at the time of his arrest.

He has been given 28 days to pay the remainder of the available amount. If he does not do this, he will face an additional sentence of six months in prison.

Detective Constable Scott Brimicombe, of the Economic Crime Unit, said: “I hope this case demonstrates that we will use POCA legislation where it is available to take illegal earnings from criminals.

“As with all Proceeds of Crime confiscation orders, the outstanding benefit figure is still owed and the case will be reviewed in the future to ascertain if the defendant has acquired further assets.”