A SMILING drug dealer from Cheshire will not have to pay any money back, despite being spotted in the act by police.

Jack Welch was caught red-handed by patrolling plain-clothed police officers at around 11am on February 26.

They were conducting an operation in Widnes when they witnessed a street deal, stopping and searching the 25-year-old and subsequently arresting him on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

A search was conducted at his home address, where a number of items were recovered.

This included a graft phone used for drug dealing, with an open message of ‘you still on mate’, as well as a large amount of white wraps and a set of scales.

Welch, of Avondale Drive, Widnes, appeared to be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

He was sentenced to three years and six months in prison, and he was told he would appear back before the court for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing to learn how much he would have to repay after benefiting from illegal activity.

This was heard last week at the same court, with Daniel Bramhall, representing the crown prosecution service, asking for POCA proceedings to be withdrawn.

This was approved by recorder Ian Harris, who also made an order for the forfeiture of £105 found in Welch’s possession following his arrest, which will be donated to the Anthony Walker Foundation.

Another order was approved for the forfeiture and destruction of drugs, drug paraphernalia and knives seized from him.

A CPS spokesperson said: “A confiscation cannot be made where a defendant holds no available assets.

“In the last five years, more than £530million has been recovered from CPS-obtained confiscation orders, ensuring that thousands of convicted criminals cannot profit from their offending.

“Nearly £118million of that amount was returned to victims of crime by way of compensation.”

Following his sentencing, PC Lauren Henthorn, of Widnes Local Policing Unit, said: “This is a great result following some proactive work from the officers who stopped and searched Welch.

“It is another example of the zero tolerance to these kinds of offences, and if you do commit crime in Cheshire, we will find you and you will be prosecuted.

“We will not stop in the fight against county lines activity in Widnes and are committed to making the area as hostile as possible for these individuals.

“I would urge anyone who thinks drug criminality is happening in their area to please get in touch with us and we will do the rest.”

To learn how to spot the signs of drug activity taking place in your area, including county lines criminal exploitation, visit cheshire.police.uk/police-forces/cheshire-constabulary/areas/cheshire/campaigns/campaigns/2019/impact/