Crime hasn't paid for 2 Wigan drug dealers
They've had to pay back £95,000
Police have seized more than £95,000 back from two convicted drug dealers in Wigan.
Back in January, 55 year old Karen Traynor of Whelley was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to the production and supply of cannabis.
Anthony Lynch, also 55, from the Newtown area of Wigan was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and the production and supply of cannabis.
Now, following a Proceeds of Crime Act Hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, Anthony Lynch was found to have benefitted from his criminality by £70,046.46.
He was ordered to pay the full amount back within three months or face a further nine months in prison, after which the debt would still be outstanding.
Karen Traynor was found to have benefitted from her criminality by £25,272.88, which she was ordered by the Judge to pay back in full within three months or face seven months in prison, after which her debt would also still be outstanding.
Financial investigators made enquiries into Lynch’s financial affairs and found that he had a pension in Malta valued to be worth around £28,500 and an apartment in Bulgaria worth approximately £19,500. He had failed to disclose his foreign assets to the Court and had moved the pension abroad whilst on bail.
Further enquiries into Traynor’s accounts revealed that she held equity in a property in Wigan and had £12,000 in an ISA.
PC John Litton from Greater Manchester Police’s Wigan division said:
“I hope that this week’s result at court sends out a strong message to the public that crime does not pay. Not only will police do all we can to investigate those responsible for dealing drugs and committing other crimes in our communities, but we will also go out of our way to track down every penny that they have made from their criminality, so that we can seize it back.
“Both Traynor and Lynch now have to sell their assets to pay back these amounts within the next three months, or they will face further time in prison after which they will still owe that money as the debt is not cleared.
“Our officers work tirelessly to ensure that our communities are free from drug dealing and organised crime, but we need the public’s help to do that most effectively.
“If you suspect criminality is taking place in your area, in your communities, please tell police so we can try to remove those offenders from our streets.”