A drug dealer found in possession of more than £25,000 worth of heroin and cocaine has been ordered to pay back £11,000 after benefiting by £38,000. He was also found with a Louis Vuitton bag, Milwaukee drill, a Tag Heuer watch, Airpods, and a Burberry handbag, which had been stolen in a burglary.
Lester Gibson, 44, was arrested at his home in Newport on January 11 when police executed a warrant. During a search of the house in Itchen Road, Bettws, 48g of heroin worth £4,800, a further 150g block of heroin worth £12,000, and a 128g block of cocaine worth £10,000 were also found.
A total of £23,205 was found in cash as well as a number of items taken from an address in Malpas Road. Prosecutor Nik Strobl said these items included a Louis Vuitton bag worth £200, a Milwaukee drill worth £550, a Tag Heuer watch worth £2,000, Apple Airpods worth £240, and a Burberry handbag worth £500.
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Gibson was arrested and gave a no comment interview but he later pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, possession of criminal property, and handling stolen goods. The court heard he had 72 previous convictions with 19 related to drugs. He was sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment.
A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing at Newport Crown Court was told Gibson benefited to the tune of £38,332 as result of his offending but only has assets worth £11,922. Judge Eugene Egan ordered the defendant to pay that sum within six months or serve a period of time in custody which is yet to be determined.
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