Drug dealer told to pay back more than £31,000

A man who funded a lavish lifestyle by drug dealing in Crewe has been ordered to pay back thousands of pounds.

Lee James, 39, was sentenced to seven years at Chester Crown Court on Thursday 5th February 2026.

James had pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis, possession of criminal property, and converting criminal property.

As part of the investigation into James’ criminal activities, numerous items were seized from his address, including a large quantity of designer clothing, footwear, handbags, watches and perfumes.

A Restraint Order under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) was previously obtained to secure these assets for any future confiscation.

Since James’ sentencing, it has now been determined that his agreed criminal benefit was £908,684. Of this, £31,555 is available to be paid back under a POCA Confiscation Order.

DS Williams said:

“James did not give a second thought as to where his money came from and used it to buy high value items and fund a lavish lifestyle.

“It did not matter to him about the impact that illegal drugs have on our communities, but thanks to the hard work of our officers he was held accountable for his behaviour and put behind bars.

“Drugs were taken off the streets, and his belongings were seized. But the hard work didn’t stop there.

“While James has been serving his prison sentence, officers have been working tirelessly to ensure that he can no longer benefit from his criminality after he is released.

“He will now have to pay back all available assets that were earned through criminal means - a great result which highlights another tool we have at our disposal to ensure those who choose to commit crime feel the full force of the law.”