Drug Dealer Faces Extra Jail Time Over £5K Payback Order

A drug dealer from Pontypool who was caught with £14,000 worth of cocaine has been ordered to pay back thousands or face additional prison time.

Jack Burman, 26, was jailed for 30 months earlier this year after police raided his flat and found 180g of cocaine in a kitchen cupboard, along with over £3,000 in cash. 📦

At a proceeds of crime hearing at Newport Crown Court, it was revealed Burman had benefited from crime to the tune of £67,532.20, though he only has £5,283.95 in assets that can be seized.

He now has three months to hand over the cash or face an additional six months behind bars.

When originally sentenced, the court heard Burman was described as a “cog in a larger wheel” who may have been taken advantage of due to having a learning disability.

Recorder Benjamin Blackmore told him: “You were one of the cogs in a larger wheel of a drug dealing operation. You may have been, to a degree, taken advantage of by certain limitations that you may have. That’s not to say that you didn’t understand what you were doing.”

The judge added: “Class A drug dealing has an enormous effect on communities and that can’t be ignored or overlooked. These courts see it day in, day out in all sorts of different ways. It is a scourge on society and a drain on society’s resources. Nothing good ever comes of it – as you are in the process of finding out.”

Burman, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession of amphetamine after giving a “no comment” interview to police.