Amphetamine-plot drug dealer to repay £40k (From South Wales Argus)

Amphetamine-plot drug dealer to repay £40k

11:10am Wednesday 13th February 2013 in Gwent news

£40,244 A DRUG dealer who benefited by more than £120,000 after admitting conspiring to supply amphetamine and converting criminal property has been ordered to pay more than £40,000 of it back.

Christopher O’Flaherty, 31, of Mount Bax, Newport, appeared via video link at Cardiff Crown Court for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing where it was heard that he had benefited fromhis crimes by a total of £120,224.93. But Judge Neil Bidder, QC, said the amount available from O’Flaherty was £40,244.09 and thereforemade a confiscation order for this amount.

The Argus reported in February last year that O’Flaherty was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to conspiring to supply amphetamine between July 2009 and July 2010, converting criminal property and possessing amphetamine with intent to supply.

His partner, Victoria Phelps, was also sentenced at the time to eight months suspended for two years, a twoyear supervision order and ordered to do 200 hours’ unpaid work after pleading guilty to converting and concealing criminal property.

At the Proceeds of Crime Act hearing Phelps also appeared in court where she was ordered to pay back £12,000 after benefiting by £32,282.33.

The Argus reported that the previous court case had heard police had found a van in Schooner Way, Duffryn, on June 11, 2010, containing mixed amphetamine believed to be worth between £16,000 and £60,000. O’Flaherty’s fingerprints were recovered from the makeshift drug factory.

O’Flaherty’s home was searched and £21,000 and a phone containing drug-related texts were recovered.

Judge Bidder, QC, gave O’Flaherty six months to pay the amount or he will face 16 months’ imprisonment if it is not paid within this time.

Phelps was also ordered to pay within six months or face a seven-month prison term.