Bamber Bridge drugs offender had £4,000 behind picture frame (From Preston and Leyland Citizen)

Bamber Bridge drugs offender had £4,000 behind picture frame

4:56pm Thursday 20th November 2008

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Officers from Lancashire Police's Financial Investigation Unit have forfeited nearly £5,000 of drugs money from a Bamber Bridge man following a hearing at Chorley Magistrates Court today.

The money was detained under the Proceeds of Crime Act in September 2007 following a routine stop-check on his car by police on Central Drive, Morecambe.

Steven Williamson, 26, of Within Lea, Bamber Bridge, was found in possession of cannabis and about £500.

He was arrested on suspicion of intent to supply and later charged with possession with intent to supply cannabis resin.

In May 2008 he was jailed for eight months for his drugs offences.

Following his arrest police searched his home address and found bundles of cash hidden behind a large picture frame in the kitchen wall totalling £4,000.

A further £210 was uncovered in the kitchen draw and bedroom.

The in-depth search by officers also exposed a large quantity of cannabis resin that was found secreted in the extractor fan hood of the cooker in the kitchen.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Constabulary's Southern Division Financial Investigation Unit said: "Proceeds of Crime legislation provides the police with significant opportunities to punish criminal activity where it hurts them the most, in their pocket.

"Any persons who are found to have benefited financially from their criminal lifestyle can now expect to not only be brought to justice before the courts, but to have their cash and assets stripped from them.

"There is no get out clause in this legislation as the criminal will be imprisoned for failure to pay back the debt.

"This further period of imprisonment will not wipe the slate clean and the debt will still be theirs to pay.

"For property to be identified as the proceeds of crime, the burden of proof is the civil one of 'on the balance of probabilities', rather than the criminal one of 'beyond a reasonable doubt'."

Williamson disclaimed the money and the full £4,710.00 has been forfeited at court under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

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