Mastermind of drug ring ordered to repay £20k

The leader of a Staffordshire-based drug dealing ring smashed by police during a massive operation has been ordered to hand over £20,000 in ill-gotten gains.

Nine people were rounded up during one phase of the crackdown – three of them professional glamour models – and were convicted of various conspiracy offences to supply cocaine, amphetamine or cannabis. Among those netted was Ronald Finnegan from Walsall Wood, said by prosecutors to be "at the heart of the conspiracies".

Finnegan and four other conspirators jailed last year were back at Stafford Crown Court for a confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

In an agreed settlement, Judge Mark Eades ruled that Finnegan had benefited from his crimes to the tune of £20,000 and his realisable assets were £40,000, mainly the equity in his home.

The judge ordered Finnegan to hand over £20,000 within 28 days or face a further 12 months imprisonment. Finnegan, aged 46, of Wyre Close, admitted conspiracies to supply cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis.

He was jailed for 54 months last March. Four other conspirators jailed last year, Trevor Greatrex, Neil Holland, Mark Addis and Andrew Dutton, were also dealt with at Tuesday's hearing and ordered to pay a nominal £10 each due to their lack of assets.

Greatrex, aged 41, of Meadowbrook Road, Lichfield denied conspiracy to supply cannabis, but was convicted by a jury and given 21 months. His criminal benefit was put at £4,600, while Dutton, 39, of Mackay Road, Walsall, who was jailed for 18 months after admitting conspiracy to supply cannabis, benefited by £4,500.

Holland, 44, of Friezland Lane, Brownhills, was jailed for 42 months and Addis, aged 29, of Chestnut Drive, Walsall, was given 18 months.

Both admitted conspiracy to supply amphetamine. Holland profited by £5,250 and Addis by £816. Mr Patrick Darby, prosecuting, said the person at the heart of the conspiracies was Finnegan, with Holland his right-hand man.

Events leading up to their arrests started with a police probe into drug dealing in the Tamworth area in 2009.