Robert Bryning, 51, of Winsford, was jailed in for five and a half years last December for possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

Robert Bryning, 51, of Winsford, was jailed in for five and a half years last December for possession of cocaine with intent to supply.
Despite having been unemployed for 19 years, a Proceeds of Crime investigation revealed he managed to buy two properties, took regular exotic holidays, owned a time share in Florida and was a member at an exclusive golf club. He was finally caught when police raided his two houses in Cedar Grove and School Road in June 2007 and found between £3,000 and £5,000 worth of the Class A drug stashed in a cash box in a garden shed. Bryning claimed officers planted the key to the box on his keyring during the raid, but electric scales with traces of cocaine and his DNA on were also recovered from Cedar Grove. After a five-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court he was found guilty by a majority verdict and sentenced to 66 months jail. Cheshire Constabulary’s Financial Investigation Unit began a complex Proceeds of Crime investigation into his finances and froze his assets to stop him from selling any possessions or removing money from his bank accounts. On Thursday, November 26, following a two day hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, Judge Fletcher concluded Bryning had benefited from crime and made a confiscation order for £127,438.95 to be paid within six months. If he fails, he will still owe the money and will have a further two years and two months added to his prison sentence. Insp David Snasdell of Winsford NPU, welcomed the news. He said: “We are committed to tackling drugs issues across Winsford and this case shows that it does not end with a prison sentence for convicted drug dealers. When they leave prison, they will not be able to return to the luxuries their life of crime previously afforded them.” Det Sgt Peter Kidd from Cheshire Constabulary’s Economic Crime Unit added: “The proceeds of Crime Act allows the court to order the forfeiture of property or money that we have grounds to believe has come from criminal activity or is going to be used in criminal activity. “This case sends out the very strong message to anyone involved in drugs supply that crime certainly does not pay. “Not only do criminals run the risk of losing their liberty, but our Financial Investigation Unit will use powers available to them under the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act to ensure that those convicted of drug trafficking offences will be stripped of the profits they have made from crime.”

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