Broadstairs thug found with drugs and knuckleduster in Margate ordered to pay back almost £90,000
12:35, 11 November 2021
updated: 14:04, 11 November 2021
A drug dealer who was jailed after being found with a large block of cocaine has been ordered to pay back almost £90,000.
Police pulled over Rennie Ash in Millmead Road, Margate, and discovered in his Ford Transit van the drugs worth £20,000, a knuckleduster and cash.
But now Ash, who is currently serving a prison sentence, will have to surrender illegally gained assets including money, cars and designer clothing under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Ash had previously been sentenced in April to six years and nine months’ imprisonment.
The 42-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts relating to Class A drug dealing and possessing an offensive weapon and criminal property.
Following his van being pulled over by police - initially for not having an MOT - a search of his then-home in Belmont Road, Broadstairs, uncovered £40,000 cash.
He was arrested for possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply following the searches in March 2019.
Ash was released while inquiries continued, but was arrested once more two months later.
Messages on his phone showed he had continued to sell drugs, despite being under under investigation.
And during a hearing earlier this month at Canterbury Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon and criminal property, as well as two counts relating to Class A drug dealing.
Ash, more recently of Westover Gardens in Broadstairs, was jailed for a total of six years and nine months.
Following the sentencing, financial investigators from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate examined Ash’s criminal earnings under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
A confiscation order was made on October 26 at Canterbury Crown Court for £86,648.
This included £55,948 of seized cash, two motor vehicles, as well as items of clothing, shoes and jewellery.
If Ash fails to pay the sum within three months he faces an additional two years in prison.
Det Supt Patrick Milford said: "Kent Police does not stop at the point of conviction and we will continue to use the full extent of the legislation contained within the Proceeds of Crime Act.
"No one should be allowed to benefit financially from committing crime, and we have again used this legislation to ensure criminals like Ash are made to pay back money they have made through illegal activities."
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