Shrewsbury Drugs Offender Ordered To Repay Nearly £6,000

A 23-year-old Shrewsbury man who received a suspended prison sentence for drug offences, has been ordered to repay nearly £6,000.

James Richard Kral, of Melrose Drive was sentenced to a total of six months in prison, suspended for two years, when he appeared before Shrewsbury Crown Court on July 19 last year.

He was also ordered to do 250 hours of unpaid work and to pay court costs of £1,200.

Kral admitted possessing cannabis, a Class B controlled drug with intent to supply, possession of mephedrone, a Class B Controlled drug with intent to supply and production of cannabis.

Following an application by West Mercia Police, a court order was made that Kral should repay £5,949 within six months under the Proceeds of Crime Act or face a default sentence of four months in prison.

The repayment sum included proceeds from the sale of his two motorcycles.

The three offences came to light when police officers carried out a drugs warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act at Kral's home address on May 26, 2010.

They discovered in a bedroom several bags containing white powder and some bags of cannabis bush.  The officers also seized various items including a set of digital scales.

A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: "Anyone involved in crime will not only be punished for those offences when they appear in court but are also likely to face confiscation proceedings whereby they have to repay money received from their criminal actions."

Issued: Tuesday, 07 August 2012