A Stalybridge drug dealer has been ordered to pay back more than £100,000 of his criminal earnings that were identified last week.
Ryan Duddy, 22, of Hamilton Street, was jailed for two and half years after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis, being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis, and possession of criminal property.
He appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court on Friday January 15 and he was found to have benefitted by a staggering £104,000 from his criminality.
He was ordered to pay back £21,450 within three months or face a further 13 months in prison, after which he would still have to pay the same amount.
Greater Manchester Police can seek further assets from Duddy at any time up to the full value of criminal activities.
Duddy was ordered to sell his house and car, forfeiting all of his savings in order to meet the payment.
On 8 May 2015, officers from the Tameside Challenger Organised Crime Team executed a warrant at Mr Duddy’s home address.
They recovered more than £2000 in cash, drug debtor’s lists, drug paraphernalia, mobile phones and a small quantity of cannabis.
Following an investigation, officers deemed that Mr Duddy had been dealing cannabis and cocaine and funding his lifestyle from the proceeds.
Detective Sergeant Joe Harrop, of the Tameside Challenger Organised Crime Team, hailed the conviction as another message that ‘crime does not pay’.
“Duddy may have thought that his incarceration was the end of his punishment, but Greater Manchester Police will always look to ensure that convicted people do not profit from their offending,” he said.
“This operation has come about thanks to some intelligence received from members of the public, and I would like to thank those people who contribute to making their communities safe.
“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.”
Anyone with information regarding any crime or suspicious activity is asked to call police on 101, or call the Tameside Challenger Organised Crime Team on 0161 856 9247.
