Van driver £130k lighter after being found using phone at wheel
A van driver has been ordered to pay more than £130,000 after West Midlands Police caught him using a phone at the wheel.
Stuart Hatfield was spotted by patrol officers on his mobile while driving in Hollyhock Road, Hall Green, back in December 2015.
They detected a smell of cannabis wafting from the van and a search of the vehicle revealed a carrier bag stuffed with more than £9,000 in cash, while a cannabis factory was later discovered at his home in Gilscroft Road, Stechford.
Hatfield received a suspended jail sentence the following year for cultivating drugs and prompted West Midlands Police to launch a Proceeds of Crime investigation.
Financial investigators from the force’s Economic Crime Unit identified more than £200,000 of unexplained deposits into his bank accounts over a six-year period, plus property collectively valued at around £100,000.
The 36-year-old claimed to be a self-employed plumber but could provide no evidence of business transactions or that the cash payments were accrued lawfully.
And at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday (29 June) a judge deemed his total profit from drug dealing amounted to £363,232 and ordered him to repay £130,282 immediately or face 15 months in jail.
The remaining amount will hang over him for life and police can seize cash or property at a later date in order to pay off the debt.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Kezia Smith, said: “What started off as a motoring offence, with him facing six points on his licence and a £200 fine, quickly escalated when his mobile phone use led us to uncover his drug production and dealing.
“Our Economic Crime Unit reviewed Hatfields’s finances for the last six years and anything he was unable to account for was assumed to be from criminal conduct until he proved otherwise.
“The confiscation investigation took more than two years but Hatfield was never able to produce evidence to prove he had come about the money lawfully.”
Officers found a sophisticated cannabis production set-up at Hatfield’s home address with plant pots automatically fed and watered with a hydrophonics system.
Drug experts assessed it had an estimated yield of up to £17,000, while two bin liners were found to contain cannabis bud valued at more than £6,000. The electricity supply had also been bypassed.
Rebecca Walburn from West Midlands Police’s Economic Crime Unit added: “The end of the criminal case was only the start of our financial investigation. If we suspect anyone has profited through criminal activity we will always pursue them through the courts using the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).
“The money seized is put back into the public purse and can be spent on community initiatives and crime prevention schemes.”
Anyone with information on suspected drug cultivation or dealing is urged to contact West Midlands Police on 101 or the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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Appeal leads to arrest over attempted rape in Solihull
Police investigating an attempted rape in a Solihull Park have arrested a 35-year-old man in connection with the offence.
He was detained in the early hours of this morning (3 July) following information received as a result of an appeal which was issued yesterday afternoon.
The attack happened on Friday afternoon (29 June) at around 2.50pm, as the 11−year-old was walking through Babbs Mill Park on her way home from school.
Detectives will also question the man about another similar incident in the area.
Chief Inspector Colin Barnes, from Solihull Police, said: “We would like to thank those who shared the appeal and would urge anyone who has any information which may assist our investigation to contact us.
“Patrols will continue in the area to offer reassurance to the community.”
Anyone with information can call 101; quoting crime number 20SH/145636Y/18. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously in 0800 555 111.
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Family pay tribute to man stabbed in a Birmingham park
The family of a man who died a week after being stabbed in a Birmingham park have paid tribute to him.
Dean Ward, 45, from Kingstanding, died last Wednesday (27 June) following a stabbing in Finchley Park, Kingstanding on 20 June.
A 17-year old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested after the man suffered serious stab wounds to his leg and groin.
West Midlands Police charged the teenager on 23 June with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.
He will appear before Birmingham Crown Court today (2 July) where a charge of murder will be formally put to him.
A 19-year-old man, who was arrested at the same time, has been released on police bail while enquiries continue.
Mr Ward’s family said: “Dean was a loving granddad, father, son and brother.”
Photo of Dean can be found – https://west-midlands.police.uk/news/5984/family-pay-tribute-man-stabbed-birmingham-park
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