Drug dealer ordered to pay thousands

A DRUG dealer from Flax Bourton will have to pay more than �30,000 or risk a longer prison sentence after being handed a confiscation order at Bristol Crown Court.

Nicholas Salton, aged 36, appeared in court yesterday (Tues) where he was ordered to pay �32,116.

On December 10, Salton pleaded guilty to supplying heroin to a woman who pleaded guilty on the same day to possession with intent to supply heroin. On January 10, he was sentenced to 48 months in prison.

At yesterday’s court hearing, he was found to have made �122,730 from his criminal activities and the court made an order to confiscate his current assets, which totalled �32,116.

Salton, who lived in the Gatcombe area of the village, now has six months to pay the order and if he fails to do so, he will have to serve an additional nine months in prison, after which he will still have to pay the money.

Dr Kirstie Cogram from Avon and Somerset Police’s Financial Investigation Unit said: “We are committed to seizing any assets that criminals have gained as a result of crime. It is not acceptable that criminals benefit from illegal activities and we will relentlessly pursue them through the courts to ensure their money is taken.”