Court struggles to claw back drug pair's £400k proceeds

INVESTIGATIONS RECOVER ONLY A TINY FRACTION OF CASH THEY MADE FROM DEALING

- By MARTIN NAYLOR

TWO drug dealers who made more than £400,000 selling cocaine on the city's streets, have been ordered to pay back just a tiny fraction of it.

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Nottingham Crown Court heard Liam Kennerdale raked in £364,923.04, while his accomplice, Ryan Selwood, made £65,884.10.

But detailed investigations of their accounts and assets have resulted in Kennerdale being stripped of £13,654.76 and just £275 being taken off Selwood.

The Proceeds of Crime Act allows the police to apply for illegally-generated cash to be seized from criminals. It is typically used after drug dealers have been sentenced and can see criminals forced to sell properties, cars or jewellery to pay the cash back.

The money seized is usually split 50-50 between the police and the Government and is often used to fund community projects.

If a convicted criminal comes into money later in life, police can still apply to have that seized.