Newport Dealer’s £33k Drug Profits Seized in Court Order

A Newport drug dealer who made over £33,000 from selling heroin and cocaine must hand over his remaining assets or face additional jail time.

Callum Cheese, 26, of Cormorant Way, Duffryn, appeared at Newport Crown Court for a proceeds of crime hearing following his imprisonment last year. The court heard he profited £33,514.10 from drug dealing, with available assets of £1,161.50 now subject to seizure.

Judge Daniel Williams ordered Cheese to surrender the amount within three months or receive an additional two months to his sentence. He must also pay a £228 victim surcharge.

Cardiff Crown Court previously heard how Cheese’s descent into crime began with gambling addiction and cannabis use. His drug dealing enterprise started as debts mounted, leading to his arrest after police connected him to a drugs line. 🚔

“This is a case of classic street dealing. It was clearly unsophisticated and it was his own operation,” stated Martha Smith-Higgins, defending.

Officers seized luxury items including a Rolex watch and a £595 Canada Goose jacket, along with jewellery and cash. Cheese pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of heroin and cocaine between August and December 2023.

Judge Hywel James stated: “There was an expectation of significant financial gain in your case and you were supplying street users. Your offending is also aggravated by the fact that you were selling both heroin and cocaine. I’m satisfied that the offences are so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified.”

Cheese was sentenced to 40 months in prison.