A drug dealer jailed after trying to dispose of almost half a kilogram of cocaine in a County Durham town has now been ordered to pay £185,000 in crime proceeds. 

Jason Mawson was stopped by officers in his car in Tow Law, on August 20, 2021, but he fled the scene, still in possession of the 488g block of cocaine.

The 51-year-old offender, of Grey Street, Crook, was, however, pursued and detained by police.

He admitted a charge of possession of a class A drug, with intent to supply, at Durham Crown Court a month later, initially offering a basis of plea that he was acting as a courier at the time.

Read more: Cocaine dealer Jason Mawson jailed

Mawson was eventually to receive a total of four-years-and-eight-months’ imprisonment (56 months), when sentenced at the court in December 2021.

The court heard the drugs he was caught in possession of were estimated to be worth £24,000 but with a much higher value based on sale prices.

Proceeds of crime inquiries have since taken place to ascertain what sums of money Mawson benefitted from, through his criminality, and how much was available to confiscate from him.

The now 53-year-old defendant was produced from custody at a short crime proceeds settlement hearing back at the court today (Thursday July 13).

Judge Jo Kidd said she had received correspondence, prior to the hearing, to confirm the figures were agreed by both prosecution and defence.

Tony Dunne, for the Crown, and Tony Davis, representing Mawson, confirmed that to be the case.

Judge Kidd said the benefit figure was put at £185,000, with the available amount to confiscate matching that amount.

Mr Davis said: “Unusually, in these cases, the available amount actually exceeds the benefit figure.”

Judge Kidd said she proposed to allow the defendant three months to make payment of the £185,000 agreed sum, giving a deadline date of October 13.

She set a period of imprisonment in default of payment by then, of a further three years.

Read more: Man charged with drugs offences following Crook incident

Judge Kidd asked the defendant if he understood the figures agreed, and he confirmed he did.

He was told he could be taken back to custody to complete his sentence.

Read next:

Man with 500g of cocaine in car admits being a ‘courier’

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Two men from Crook and Durham in court over theft of Kirbymoorside cash machine

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Following the sentencing hearing, of December 2021, the then Acting Detective Inspector Amanda Howe, of Durham Police’s Specialist Crime Operations Unit, welcomed the length of the jail term imposed.

She said: “I hope that this sentence sends a clear message to those who are tempted to become involved in drugs criminality.

“Durham Constabulary will not tolerate individuals being embroiled in the supply of drugs which impacts upon and causes harm to communities.”