Long Sutton drug dealer told to give up £2,000

A Long Sutton man who was jailed for drugs offences has been ordered to give up over £2,000 in criminal cash and three mobile phones.

Martin Norman Portass, 48, was jailed for two years and eight months after he pleaded guilty to supplying cannabis and cocaine in May 2019.

A Proceeds of Crime hearing at Lincoln Crown Court was told Portass, of Queensway, Long Sutton, had made a benefit of £3,945 from his criminal behaviour.

Quinna Fitzpatrick, prosecuting, told the court that following an investigation of his finances it was discovered Portass had realisable assets of just £2,907.

Miss Fitzpatrick said that cash was already in the hands of the police as it was seized from Portass at the time of his arrest.

The court heard Portass, who attended the hearing via a video-link from HMP Five Wells, had already signed a waiver agreeing to give up the money held by the police.

Miss Fitzpatrick also asked for the drugs and paraphernalia seized from Portass to be destroyed, and for the forfeiture of three mobile phones taken from him.

Recorder Charles Thomas agreed to those orders and told Portass he would face a further two months imprisonment if he did not  give up the money already held by the police.

“The money that is with the police is going to stay with the police,” Recorder Thomas said.

“You won’t be getting your mobile phones back.”