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Drugs dealer jailed at last
One of Oxfordshire's major drug dealers was jailed after police found cannabis and £68,000 in cash hidden on his canal boat.
The conviction of Alistair Hayhurst, who spent two-and-a-half years on the run from police, has been hailed as a significant victory in the fight against drugs in the county.
Oxford Crown Court heard that in 2005, Hayhurst, a carpenter, set up hydroponic growing systems in two houses at Randolph Street and Howard Street, in East Oxford, to cultivate cannabis plants.
But he failed to attend court after being arrested and remained on the run until being caught by police returning to his canal boat Dreamcatcher at Abingdon Lock this May.
Matthew Corrie, prosecuting, said officers recognised Hayhurst, searched his boat and found 980g of cannabis resin and £50,000 in cash in a backpack and a box on board.
A further search a few days later uncovered another £18,000 in cash, hidden in a secret cupboard under bedroom drawers.
Mr Corrie said: "The Crown would say the money suggested it was a larger scale operation than perhaps it might appear from the amount of drugs."
Father-of-two Hayhurst, 40, had admitted charges of unlawful cultivation of cannabis and possession of cannabis with intent to supply at an earlier hearing.
Peter Du Feu, defending, said Hayhurst had been addicted to heroin, but had managed to kick the habit in the late 1990s.
He said Hayhurst had only set up the hydroponics systems in East Oxford and had taken no further interest in the drugs produced there.
Referring to the cash found on the canal boat, he added: "He knows perfectly well it is drugs money. This was money he was looking after for others."
Jailing Hayhurst for two years, Judge Patrick Eccles said his sentencing powers could have been greater if Hayhurst had been charged with money laundering or another offence relating to the cash.
He said: "You come before the court with a long history of cannabis use which inevitably developed into the cultivation of cannabis.
"The fact you were on the run is a seriously aggravating feature in all of this."
Speaking after the court hearing, Det Sgt Craig Kirby, of Thames Valley Police, said he had not known so much cash to be recovered in a drugs investigation for many years.
He said: "It's certainly a positive result and does indicate the sort of lifestyle he was leading to have that sort of cash.
"We believe he was a key player in the drugs supply in the Oxfordshire area."
8:47am Friday 25th July 2008
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CommentPosted by: rob, Wantage on 10:21am Fri 25 Jul 08
what a waste of weed
Posted by: n, oxford on 12:50pm Fri 25 Jul 08
wat a waste of effort in growing weed....all wasted........well pls tell the community "£65000 that is recoverd - what are they goin to do with that money?"
wat a waste of effort in growing weed....all wasted........well pls tell the community "£65000 that is recoverd - what are they goin to do with that money?"
Posted by: rob, Wantage on 1:43pm Fri 25 Jul 08
It will be spent on brand new patrol cars, team building outings and doughnuts
It will be spent on brand new patrol cars, team building outings and doughnuts
Posted by: Edd, oxfordshire on 4:54pm Sat 26 Jul 08
There is always going to be a demand for cannabis, why not just let people grow their own instead of providing a market for oversea gangsters with contaminated weed? Way to go Brown...
There is always going to be a demand for cannabis, why not just let people grow their own instead of providing a market for oversea gangsters with contaminated weed? Way to go Brown...
Posted by: FB, Oxfordshire on 3:35pm Mon 28 Jul 08
That's why there's been a drought... Of course
That's why there's been a drought... Of course
Posted by: damien trolloppe, toulouse on 8:35pm Mon 28 Jul 08
<<It will be spent on brand new patrol cars, team building outings and doughnuts>>
That so not true, I've had it on good authority(And what better place to have it) that policeman do not eat doughnuts because it makes them fat....then they cannot run...then they get all grumpy....and if i hear any more crap like this just let me know where you live so we can arrange a little tete a tete.
<<It will be spent on brand new patrol cars, team building outings and doughnuts>>
That so not true, I've had it on good authority(And what better place to have it) that policeman do not eat doughnuts because it makes them fat....then they cannot run...then they get all grumpy....and if i hear any more crap like this just let me know where you live so we can arrange a little tete a tete.
Posted by: ady, shabingdon on **** on 11:13pm Mon 28 Jul 08
use the money to pay for the traffic light system to be up dated , put it back into the comunity for a change ..
use the money to pay for the traffic light system to be up dated , put it back into the comunity for a change ..
Posted by: crime victim, Oxfordshire on 6:05pm Mon 4 Aug 08
The money gained from criminal activity goes into a fund for victims of horrendous crimes to claim for as compensation.
The money gained from criminal activity goes into a fund for victims of horrendous crimes to claim for as compensation.
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