A cocaine and cannabis dealer who ran a failing designer clothing shop in Blackwood has been ordered to pay back almost £42,000 following a proceeds of crime hearing at Cardiff Crown Court.
Ashley Forbes, of Cefn Fforest Avenue, Cefn Fforest, was jailed for three years at Swansea Crown Court in 2024 after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, being concerned in the supply of cannabis, and possession with intent to supply cocaine. He had no relevant previous convictions.
Drug operation
Forbes was described in court as an “upscale” cocaine supplier who had been providing sizeable quantities of the class A drug to another dealer further down the supply chain. It was the arrest of this lower-level dealer that ultimately led officers to Forbes.
Prosecutor Megan Jones told the court that Forbes had sold 56g of cocaine with a potential street value of £4,300 to this individual.
Officers who arrested Forbes found cocaine and cannabis worth £1,100 in his possession. They also recovered a mobile phone containing a tick list which revealed he was owed more than £8,000 in drug debts.
Business collapse
The court heard Forbes’s descent into drug dealing followed the failure of his designer clothing business on Blackwood High Street.
Defence barrister Jeffrey Jones said: “He had a designer clothing shop business which started in July 2022 and it was not performing well by November 2023. This gave rise to him taking drugs through anxiety and the business started having more debts that he couldn’t then face and satisfy.”
Mr Jones added: “Running a shop in the High Street in Blackwood wasn’t something that was easy. And indeed in November of 2023 the shop was flooded from flats above it giving rise to the business being temporarily closed. Clothing was being damaged and furniture had been damaged.”
His barrister said Forbes had also started using cocaine and cannabis himself due to the anxiety his financial situation caused. The court was told he is a married man with a young daughter.
Proceeds of crime
A proceeds of crime investigation established that Forbes had made £46,000 from his drug dealing. He was ordered to pay back just under £42,000 from assets available for seizure.
Forbes was given three months to hand over the money or face an additional 15 months in prison.
