**Barry Drug Dealer Ordered to Repay Fraction of Profits from Illegal Operation**
A 22-year-old man from Barry, who was found to have reaped more than £13,000 through dealing drugs, has been ordered to return just over £3,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA). Lee Dickenson was apprehended by police officers last year and found with a significant quantity of illegal substances, yet only a portion of his criminal earnings will be reclaimed by authorities.
Dickenson’s encounter with the law began on the streets of Barry in March 2023, when patrolling officers stopped him after he matched the description of a suspect they were seeking. Upon detention, officers discovered cannabis in his possession as well as a mobile phone—both of which were immediately seized for further investigation.
The investigation soon expanded to Dickenson’s residence. A police search revealed a substantial haul: several bags of cannabis, a small measure of cocaine, a total of eleven mobile phones, drug-related paraphernalia, and a stash of cash. In total, the cannabis alone weighed 435.7g, with an estimated street value ranging from £1,800 to £3,300. These findings painted a clear picture of someone entrenched in the local drug trade.
A digital probe into Dickenson’s seized phone uncovered a telling message, “3.5 cash now,” which, alongside other conversations, tied him to active distribution of controlled substances. Additional communications suggested Dickenson’s involvement in directing others in the supply of cannabis, supporting the prosecution’s assertion of his central role in the operation.
At an earlier sentencing in Cardiff Crown Court, Dickenson admitted to possessing cannabis with intent to supply, as well as holding a quantity of cocaine. He was already serving a prison sentence of three years and nine months, following previous convictions linked to the supply of Class A drugs. The court determined that his latest offences would add eight months to his sentence, to be served concurrently with his current term.
The case returned to the courtroom in late May for a POCA hearing at Newport Crown Court, with the judiciary tasked to calculate how much of Dickenson’s ill-gotten gains could be recovered. Despite estimates placing his total benefit from drug offences at £13,551, it emerged that Dickenson’s assets amounted to a much smaller sum—just £3,129. Judge Daniel Williams ruled that only this amount could be recovered, giving the defendant three months to pay or face an additional three months’ imprisonment in default.
Mitigating on Dickenson’s behalf, his legal representative, Emma Harris, highlighted the challenges faced by her client, describing a childhood marred by instability and a “transient lifestyle”. Harris indicated that Dickenson’s substance abuse issues and subsequent debts led him down the path of drug dealing, a situation not uncommon among those caught up in the criminal justice system.
Observers note that the sizeable gap between the profits generated by illegal activity and the assets available for seizure continues to frustrate efforts to address the proceeds of crime. The POCA framework operates on the premise that only available funds can be seized, leaving the state with limited options in cases where offenders quickly dissipate or conceal their profits.
Dickenson notably refused to appear in court for the latest hearing, choosing to remain in prison rather than face the judge in person. His absence did not halt proceedings, as the mandatory orders regarding repayment were handed down regardless.
This case serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by law enforcement and the courts in undoing the financial incentives of drug crime. While Dickenson will forfeit his remaining assets, the majority of his profits remain unrecovered.
The court’s decision underscores the ongoing complexities involved in tackling drug-related crime across the Vale of Glamorgan and beyond, shining a light on the broader issues of asset recovery and recidivism within the criminal system.