Drug dealer to repay £94,000 of 'ill-gotten gains'

Dominic Bevilacqua, 25, was jailed in 2024 for supplying Class A drugs

A county lines drug dealer has been ordered to pay back more than £94,000 earned from criminal activity.

Dominic Bevilacqua, 25, was jailed for three years and three months in May 2024 after admitting supplying Class A drugs between Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire.

Police had raided his house in Broadway, Crowland, near Peterborough, seizing mobile phones - including one linking him to the so-called "Dom" drugs line, as well as cannabis plants with a street value of up to £13,000.

The Eastern Region Special Operations Unit's (ERSOU) Proceeds of Crime Unit (POCU) launched a financial investigation, which revealed Bevilacqua had benefitted by a total of £185,748.15 from his crimes.

In May 2024, Bevilacqua pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, cannabis, production of cannabis, three counts of assault by beating, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place - and committing and act with intent to pervert the course of public justice.

'Ill-gotten gains'

A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing at Peterborough Crown Court on 30 July ordered Bevilacqua to repay his currently held cash and assets worth £94,230.88 within three months - or face a further six months in prison and still be required to repay the money.

Senior financial investigation manager for POCU, Paul Fitzsimmons, said: "We will maximise every opportunity we can under POCA legislation, alongside our colleagues in police forces, to strip those who seek to benefit from their ill-gotten gains.

"We hope that this serves as a strong deterrent to anyone who thinks that they can profit financially from criminal activity."