Bradford drug dealer ordered to pay back almost £80,000

Peter Rawson, aged 38, of Henley Road, Bradford, was jailed last year for three years after he was found guilty of money laundering and drugs supply offences.

Officers executed a warrant at the self-employed window cleaner’s house in April 2011 and seized 1,400 diapazam tablets and £2,900 in cash.

And today Judge Burn at Bradford Crown Court granted a confiscation order against Rawson for £79,169.79.

He was given six months to repay the amount or will have 21 months added to his original sentence.

If he fails to pay the full amount within the specified time he will serve a lengthier term and still have to pay the amount outstanding.

The money will be used for community projects and policing operations.

Detective Inspector Ian Bryar, of the Bradford Proceeds of Crime Team, said: “We welcome this latest confiscation order, which once again proves that crime doesn’t pay in Bradford.

“We hope it will serve as a warning to those living off the proceeds of crime, that we will find you, arrest you and seize your assets, and then do all we can to make sure that money is paid back.

“I would also urge residents to report anyone who they believe to be living off the proceeds of crime to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire, Mark Burns Williamson, said: “This case demonstrates yet again how important it is we get more of the money seized from criminals in West Yorkshire kept here and invested back into tackling crime.

“This confiscation order is for a significant amount and these ill-gotten gains of criminals will be invested back into our communities to keep them safer and feeling safer.

“I have pledged to encourage and support work done by our police service and criminal justice partners to recover more assets from criminals and thank West Yorkshire Police for all their hard work.

“I will continue to lobby government and try to get more of the money seized from criminals back here where it belongs in communities affected by crime and would urge people to sign my Proceeds of Crime Act petition.”

The petition can be found at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/52046