Convicted Dorset drug dealer ordered to repay over £9,000
Maria Parnell has appeared in court under the Proceeds of Crime Act
A drug dealer, convicted for crimes carried out in Shaftesbury, has been ordered to pay back more than £9,000 through the Proceeds of Crime Act.
55 year old Maria Suzanne Parnell from Semley in Wiltshire was sentenced to three and a half years in prison in March 2022.
She admitted to three counts of possession with intent to supply class A drugs and one count of possession with intent to supply class B drugs.
Parnell has now appeared before Bournemouth Crown Court under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The court rules she'd benefitted from a total of £53,909.90 through her offending, and will have to repay £9,537.66.
She's been given three months to pay the amount, or face an additional six month prison sentence.
How was Parnell caught?
Dorset Police stopped a vehicle in Blackmore Road, Shaftesbury, back in July 2019.
Officers searched the car and her handbag, and found around £12,700 worth of drugs and £850 in cash.
Parnell was the driver and only occupant of the car and was arrested and charged.
Detective Constable Scott Brimicombe, of the Economic Crime Unit, said:
“I hope this case demonstrates that we will use POCA legislation where it is available to take illegal earnings from criminals.
“As with all Proceeds of Crime confiscation orders, the outstanding benefit figure is still owed and the case will be reviewed in the future to ascertain if the defendant has acquired further assets.”