West Sussex criminals stripped of criminal property

Jamie Gordon, 44, of Grinstead Lane, Lancing, had been sentenced in February this year to five years’ imprisonment at Chichester Crown Court, after pleading guilty to supplying amphetamine, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and possession of criminal property.

He faced a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) confiscation hearing on Wednesday, May 16, at the same court.

His total benefit from crime was found to be £150,745.50, so £39,400 in cash seized from him on his arrest, and his vehicle, will be confiscated.

Clark Tribe, 29, of no fixed address, also sentenced in February to three years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to supplying cocaine and amphetamine and possession of criminal property, was given a POCA confiscation order for £1,100 at the same court on February 2.

His total benefit from crime was found to be £9,126.

The two sentences and the confiscation hearings all stemmed from an alert Sussex Roads Policing officer who spotted Gordon and Tribe acting suspiciously in the car park at Shoreham Airport on March 8 last year.

Police said it swiftly became clear that he was witnessing a drugs deal and he raised the alarm.

The men fled in two vehicles, one of which was stopped after a short pursuit on the A259 towards Brighton, and the other one was found in Worthing.

Tribe was found to be in possession of a large quantity of amphetamine and cocaine with a street value of almost £13,000.

A search of Gordon’s vehicle and two addresses connected to him turned up large amounts of cocaine, and amphetamine with a potential street value of almost £190,000.00.

A total of £39,400 in cash was also found in Gordon’s van.

Detective Inspector of the Sussex Police Economic Crime Unit said: “Thanks to the alertness of the officer, the swift response of colleagues and the expert work of one of our financial investigators, two drug dealers have been brought to justice and are paying for their crime by losing their liberty and finances.”