A Hove drug dealer has been ordered to repay £27,921 of his ill-gotten gains or face an extra year in jail.
Simon Neil Archer, 45, of Newtown Road, Hove, is already serving a six year sentence after being caught on Hangleton Link Road in February 2008 driving a white Ford Transit van with eight kilogram packages of skunk cannabis worth £67,000 in the back. Police searches later uncovered evidence of a sophisticated organisation for growing the drug.
His troubles worsened on Friday (June 11) when Judge Niblett heard confiscation proceedings at Lewes Crown Court and ruled Archer had benefited by £150,000 from his crimes. He ordered Archer to repay £27,921 or have his sentence extended.
The drug dealer has now given police permission to sell his Aston Martin sportscar to raise money towards the amount.
Detective Inspector Chris Neilson, of Sussex Police Economic Crime Unit, said: “This case is another example of the way in which we will pursue criminal profits as well as arresting the criminals. The process can take time, as in this case, but the public can be reassured that we don’t give up the chase just because someone has gone to prison.”
