A drug dealer with addresses in Crewe and Winsford - has had confiscation orders totalling over £390,000 made against him by the courts.

At the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing, a judge agreed that Shane Preece, 43, had benefited from his crimes to the sum of £390,000.

It also found that his wife Carla Preece, 32, had also benefited from her crimes to the sum of £40,000.

Shane Preece's wife, Carla Preece, 32, had also benefited from her crimes to the sum of £40,000 (Cheshire Constabulary).

Available assets of more than £70,000 have already been identified in relation to the pair and they have been ordered to pay that amount immediately.

The pair will owe the remaining sum to the courts for the rest of their lives until they can repay the full amount.

The pair were originally convicted as part of Operation Fedora in January this year following warrants at an address on Dart Walk, Winsford in October 2020, November 2020 and finally on 16 June 2021.

This is when the pair were subsequently charged for their roles in the criminal operation.

Shane pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, two counts of possession with intent to supply Class B and two counts of transferring criminal property under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

He was handed a six-year and nine months imprisonment.

In 2021, further search warrants at both the Dart Walk address and a second property belonging to Shane Preece in Crewe (Cheshire Constabulary).

Carla pleaded guilty to transferring criminal property under the Proceeds of Crime Act and was handed a 20-day rehabilitation order.

A warrant was first executed at the property in Dart Walk and a caravan nearby in 2020 with cash and drugs being recovered.

Financial checks were also completed on the Preece bank accounts which found staggering amounts of money being deposited.

In 2021, further search warrants at both the Dart Walk address and a second property belonging to Shane in Crewe.

Police were also armed with the power to seize goods under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Officers seized items of significant value including several televisions, games consoles, numerous items of jewellery and designer clothing, and even the family sofa.

Large bundles of cash stuffed in designer handbags and a hidden floor safe were also uncovered.

Superintendent Gary Smith, who had oversight of the investigation, said: "Shane Preece profited from his criminal exploits while causing many residents of Winsford to suffer as a result.

"There is no doubt that information from the local community assisted us in putting Preece behind bars for his crimes.

"This latest result obtained by our Financial Investigation Unit demonstrates the lengths we can go to in order to target those who have heavily profited from illegal activity.

"To secure this result, our Financial Investigation Unit can also conduct updated financial checks on people and, if further assets or the means to pay is identified in the future, then they will be taken back to court.

"If you're involved in any drug related activity then you run the risk of not only being jailed but also having to pay back any cash that you may have benefited from as a result.

Shane Preece and Carla Preece will owe the remaining sum to the courts for the rest of their lives - until they can repay the full amount (Cheshire Constabulary).

"The message is clear; crime really does not pay here in Cheshire."

Anyone with information about drug related activity in their community is urged to report it via the Cheshire Police website or through Crimestoppers.

READ MORE: Non-league Crewe football team make first bid to sign World Cup record breaker.

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