A drug dealing couple found to have benefited by more than £30,000 from supplying cocaine have been ordered to pay back just £4,000. They were found in possession of up to £1,500 worth of cocaine when they were stopped by police.
Kyle Redwood, 31, and Chloe George, 29, were seen by police in a black car in Church Village on April 23 last year. They aroused suspicion after a man approached the driver's side of the car and appeared to engage in a drug deal.
Police continued to follow the car as it made its way through Treforest and Pontypridd before bringing the vehicle to a stop on the Broadway Interchange. Both of the defendants were placed in handcuffs and the car was searched.
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A number of items were seized including a grip seal bag containing cocaine, £55 in cash, a black iPhone and an IMO phone. Redwood was also strip searched and found in possession of 10 bags containing cocaine in his underwear.
The house where the couple were then living was also searched and among the items seized were two phones, £2,190 in cash, numerous grip seal bags and scales. When the phones were examined, several messages related to drug dealing were discovered.
George said the drugs were mainly found in half street deals worth between £30 and £40 but a larger amount weighing 13.5g was worth around £1,000. Redwood, of Oak Street, Rhydyfelin, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine. George, of Tallis Street, Cwmparc, Treorchy, pleaded guilty to the same charge on the basis she sent a text advertising drugs on an occasion when Redwood was unable to.
Redwood was sentenced to a total of 32 months imprisonment. George was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work, a 10 day rehabilitation activity requirement, and to pay court costs of £420.
A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday heard Redwood benefited to the tune of £34,447 as a result of the offending, but has assets worth only £1,766. Recorder Dyfed Thomas ordered the defendant to pay that sum within one month or serve six months imprisonment in default. George was found to have benefited by £27,842 but has assets worth only 2,566. She was ordered to pay that sum within three months or serve six months imprisonment in default.
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