Drug dealer stripped of £550,000 assets

A jailed drug dealer was stripped of more than half a million pounds of assets today - including his house, yacht and three flats.

Damien Ramsey, 39, led an expensive lifestyle complete with designer jewellery and yachts - paid for by selling amounts of cocaine and cannabis.

He even splashed out on a 10-man Jacuzzi which was installed in the back garden of his home in Bristol.

When police raided Ramsey's house in April last year they uncovered a drugs factory including a haul of 30 cannabis plants with a street value of £12,000 and differing amounts of cocaine in a number of locations, including his car.

An investigation found that Ramsey owned a £220,000 Fairline Phantom 40 yacht.

Ramsey also had a knuckleduster and two cans of CS pepper spray.

His luxurious lifestyle ended in August of last year when he was jailed for five years for a string of drug offences.

He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply, production of cannabis and stealing electricity.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing offensive weapons, including two CS gas sprays and a knuckleduster.

Today at Bristol Crown Court, Ramsey was ordered to repay £551,044.96 within six months.

Judge Mark Horton made the order, with Ramsey's total available assets valued at £654,558.45.

Kirstie Cogram, of Avon and Somerset Police's financial investigation unit, said: "We are committed to seizing all 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.

"By doing this we show criminals that they will not benefit from crime and hopefully deter others from entering a life of crime."