Drug dealers ordered to pay back proceeds of crime

Drug dealers Aadil Ahmed and Grant Hartley

Aadil Ahmed and Grant Hartley, both from Rochdale and serving prison sentences for conspiracy to supply Class A Drugs, have been ordered to repay the proceeds of their criminal behaviour at a Proceed Of Crimes Act hearing at Bolton Crown Court.

It was calculated that Aadil Ahmed had benefitted from his criminality to the sum of £189,610.53 and this amount will remain as a debt until it is paid off. In the interim he has been ordered to pay the sum of £4,560 within six months or have further two months custody added to his sentence, for default.

Grant Hartley's criminal benefit figure was £2,375 and he was ordered to pay back £1,225.41 within three months or face a further month behind bars.

GMP spokesman, PC Gibson, said: "This hearing demonstrates our continuing commitment to target criminals and their ill gotten gains from their criminality. Even after these offenders have been sentenced to imprisonment we will continue to make full use of the POCA legislation to ensure that criminals do not benefit financially from their illegal activities.

"The large benefit figures mentioned will remain as a debt to Ahmed and Hartley until it is paid off, in effect if any assets are identified during their incarceration, and after their release, steps will be taken to obtain and sell off the asset in order to reduce the outstanding debt, vehicles, property, watches, jewellery, are all classed as assets - the list is not exhaustive."