Kedington drug dealer must repay £10,000

A man from Kedington who admitted being involved in the supply of illegal drugs has been ordered to hand over more than £10,000.

Michael Cornelius, 46, of School Road, was jailed for 33 months at Ipswich Crown Court after pleading guilty to two offences.

Last Thursday (15) Cornelius reappeared in court via a video link from HMP Peterborough for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing. The court heard that specialist financial investigators had established that Cornelius had benefited from his crimes by £77,872 and had assets of £10,320.

Prosecuting, Matthew Sorel-Cameron said that an estimated £6,000 of what Cornelius owned was his share of his home and relied on being sold.

Mr Recorder John Foy QC ordered Cornelius to hand over £10,320 within the next three months or face a further six months in prison.

Cornelius had pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and possession of criminal property when he was jailed in June.

Police officers searched his home on July 23, 2014, and seized thousands of pounds in bank notes and a set of electronic scales and knife, both of which had traces of cocaine.

Detective Inspector Nick Power, of the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit which brought the action, said: “The order made by the court in this case underlines our determination to ensure that those who profit from crime in our community will be targeted and stripped of the fruits of their labour.

“In the case of Michael Cornelius the court has ensured he has seen the entirety of his known assets taken from him.”