A DRUGS gang who pleaded guilty to being involved in underground cannabis cultivation on land off Blackpole Road have been ordered to pay back a total of more than £300,000.
James Worrall, 32, was sentenced to 43 months in prison, Michael Lee, 57, was jailed for 32 months and Alexander Rogers, 33, for 29 months after they admitted by involved in the production of a controlled Class B drug-cannabis.
Lee also pleaded guilty to dishonestly using electricity at the site between March 2014 and October 2015.
All three were jailed in December 2016 by His Honour Judge Cole and confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 began at the conclusion of the case.
Confiscation Orders in respect of Worrall and Rogers were resolved in March 2018 and proceedings were brought to a conclusion last Thursday by Judge Tindal at Hereford Crown Court with a Confiscation Order for Lee.
Worrall was ordered to repay available assets of £13,979.98 and his benefit from his general criminal conduct was set at £142,305.91. Rogers was ordered to repay available assets of £34,239.63 and his benefit from his criminal conduct was set at £60,000.
Lee was ordered to repay available assets of £108,885.28 with his benefit from general criminal conduct set at £108,885.28.
All outstanding benefit from criminal conduct will be a debt until the men repay the sums in full.
The criminal investigation began when employees of Western Power Distribution (WPD) were investigating irregularities with power supply in the area. A warrant was enforced in October 2015 and two 40ft shipping containers were discovered buried below ground to hide a stable block with concrete base had been constructed on top of the containers.
The containers were fully serviceable with an illegal electricity connection. Whilst no plants were growing at the time it was fully set up with lighting, fans and ventilation.
Det Insp Emma Wright of the Economic Crime Unit said: “We will remove assets from those who have benefited from the proceeds of such crime. The orders granted in respect of this group represent the results of a time-consuming criminal investigation and linked financial investigation.
“The results mean those who have benefited from these offences will be stripped of their assets and demonstrate that ultimately crime does not pay.”
West Mercia Police is committed to tackling serious and organised crime (SOC). Protect is a campaign being run by West Mercia Police and Warwickshire Police alongside a range of partner agencies to tackle serious and organised crime.
Call West Mercia Police on 101 to report a crime or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
