A JUDGE has ruled that a drugs courier caught on the M6 near Carlisle benefited from his crime to the tune of £62,816.
But Shaun McCafferty, 33, who is currently serving a prison sentence for being a drugs courier, had available assets worth just £7,364, Carlisle Crown Court heard. Those assets, which included a car worth just over £4,000, were held in in two bank accounts.
Judge Paul Lawton ruled that the money and the car – a Ford Focus – must now be handed over to part-settle the debt.
Those assets must be handed over to the court within the next three months, otherwise he will have to serve an extra four months in jail.
McCafferty, a father of three of Lincombe Road, Liverpool, was caught driving north on the M6 between Penrith and Carlisle on November 6 last year.
After searching his car, police found crack cocaine and heroin hidden inside the car.
The potential street value of the drugs was £37,000.
McCafferty had previous similar convictions – including one in Edinburgh when he was caught with drugs worth £65,000. His barrister said he was a courier and not a dealer.
He acted as a courier to clear his debt to a dealers. He is serving a five and a half year sentence for his crimes.
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