Southend dealer Liam Allen ordered to pay £27k in drug money

Liam Allen, 38, was jailed for seven years on March 23 after police found the cash and cannabis during a raid at his home in Liftstans Way, Southend, in April 2016.

The raid took place after Essex Police detectives witnessed Allen and another dealer 33-year-old William Curbishley ferrying cash and drugs across south Essex.

The operation resulted in a total of £95,000 worth of cash, cocaine and cannabis being seized from the streets.

Curbishley was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to supply, conspiracy to supply cannabis and possession of criminal property.

Allen was charged with conspiracy to supply cannabis and possession of criminal property.

At court, Curbishley, of Christchurch Road, pleaded guilty to the offences against him and was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court in March 2018.

He received five years’ imprisonment for possession with intent to supply cocaine, three years and eight months imprisonment to run concurrently for conspiracy to supply cannabis and six months imprisonment to run concurrently for possession of criminal property.

Allen stood trial at Chelmsford Crown Court and was found guilty of both offences.

He was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to supply cannabis and two years to run concurrently for possession of criminal property.

A confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act was held on Friday, September 21 at Basildon Crown Court.

The judge declared Allen had benefited from his crimes to the tune of £250,000.

Based on his available assets, he was ordered to pay £27,350.

Det Insp Paul Dibell said: “The Proceeds of Crime Act is a powerful tool in stripping criminals of their wealth, not only now but in the future as the criminal benefit figure of £250,000 can still be pursued if further assets or wealth come to light.

“We will pursue money made from the proceeds of crime to ensure that crime does not pay and to disrupt criminal activity harming our communities.”