Hereford drug dealer ordered to pay back over £172k

[Hereford Voice]

A Hereford man has been ordered to pay back over £172,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) or face more time in prison.

In June 2022, officers stopped Brian Gough in his car and found the 67-year-old in possession of cocaine and amphetamine.

A warrant was issued at his home address in Laburnum Grove, Hereford, where officers recovered drugs with a street value of £24,390 and drugs paraphernalia.

Gough was arrested and on April 12, 2023, he pleaded guilty to three charges of possession with intent to supply class A drugs (cocaine) and class B drugs (cannabis and amphetamine)

He was sentenced to:-

Three years for possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

Two years and eight months for possession and intent to supply class B drugs.

10 months for possession and intent to supply amphetamine.

The sentences ran concurrently.

At the POCA hearing at Worcester Crown Court last Friday (9 August) Gough was instructed to pay back £172,653.75 - believed to be the proceeds of his crime. If he doesn’t pay back the money he will be sentenced to a further three years.

Detective Inspector Dan Fenn said, “It’s incredibly rewarding to see the impact the Proceeds of Crime Act has on those who make money from crime.“POCA allows us not only to bring criminals to justice but also strip them of the financial gains they made from their illegal activities.“Crime does not pay as West Mercia Police will proactively target those who are illegally benefiting from crime. Our goal is to send a clear message: Crime will not be tolerated.”