Drug traces in the rubbish
The Midlands RART have secured a Confiscation order of £90,720 against Dean HORTON a 32 year old man from Wychbold, near Droitwich Worcestershire. HORTON was given 6 months to pay the Order or face a further 2 years imprisonment. In addition, his Ferrari 355 Spider motorcar was seized and returned to the finance company. It is likely that HORTON will be forced to sell his house to satisy the order.
Dean HORTON was initially arrested in September 2004 in his Ferrari 355 Spider motor car in Stratford Road, Hall Green. He was in possession of a large quantity of cash, over £23,000. His home was subsequently searched and a quantity of drugs were recovered, including two blocks of amphetamine powder weighing 837 and 834 grammes, together with some parcel tape with traces of cocaine on it.
HORTON claimed he had `tried cocaine once at a party ages ago' and had had nothing to do with the drug since then, but that someone who house-sat for him had taken cocaine there.
When the police searched HORTON's dustbins they found discarded packages with traces of cocaine on them and drinking straws with cocaine and his DNA.
Despite the evidence, he denied having anything to do with selling the drug.
By arrangement with the local authority, on a number of dates in 2003 HORTON's rubbish bags were not taken to the tip, but to the police station where they were searched.
In September 2003 two freezer bags and a carrier bag were taken from the bin and a forensic analysis showed traces of cocaine. Other searches revealed the dealer's lists of contacts.
In November and December the police found cut-down drinking straws, which had traces of cocaine on the inside, and HORTON's DNA on the outside, as well as another freezer bag in December with traces of cocaine in it.
The 32-year-old, of Ariel Way, Wychbold, pleaded not guilty to three charges of being involved in the supply of cocaine between September 2003 and September 2004 and possessing amphetamine with the intent to supply.
HORTON was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years inprisonment for supplying class A drugs [Cocaine] following a trial at Warwick Crown Court in June 2005.
The judge described Horton as "a wholesaler of drugs who brought misery to the users he sold drugs to and to the victims of those drug users who committed crimes to pay for their addiction."
People across the whole of the Midlands region can be assured that the Regional Crime Unit and the Regional Asset Recovery Team will continue to target drugs networks, arrest offenders, prevent dangerous drugs from reaching the community, and make sure that drug traffickers do not keep any of their financial benefit from the illegal drugs trade.