[T]HREE South Cumbria drugs plot crooks who raked in more than £41,000 from criminal activity have been ordered to pay back just £1 apiece.
Stephen Welsh, 32, James Inglesby, 30, and 24-year-old Sean Till were jailed for a total of almost 12 years last September.
Carlisle Crown Court heard how the trio used an addict’s Kendal home as a base from which to peddle cocaine and heroin.
During the conspiracy, Welsh was said to have assumed the role of branch manager and operator of a hub phone from which messages were despatched alerting users to illegal substances being on sale.
All later admitted conspiring to supply the two drugs during a 17-day period. Welsh, of Ackers Hall Avenue, Liverpool, was jailed for five years three months, while homeless Till and Inglesby, of Clorraine Road, Kirkby, Liverpool, each received 40-month terms.
Police began attempts to claw back ill-gotten gains from the three men. And at the crown court today (FRI) Judge Barbara Forrester heard their joint criminal benefit had been £41,400.
However, none of the men were said to have any assets to their name. As a result, Judge Forrester ordered them to each pay back a nominal amount of £1. They were given 28 days to pay or face one day’s custody in default.