For sale '“ a drug lord's lavish goods

These luxury items are going under the hammer following the jailing of a Fylde coast crimelord.
Gangleader Michael WelshGangleader Michael Welsh
Gangleader Michael Welsh

Michael Welsh lived a lavish lifestyle on the proceeds of his gang’s drug dealings.

But after he, and five others were jailed for almost 40 years, their ill-gotten gains have been catalogued and will be sold off under the Proceeds of Crimes Act.

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Items to be auctioned off include 10-berth yacht The Peaceful warrior which is in Spain, a Bayliner speedboat and dinghy, an Audi TT and four other cars, and numerous items of expensive clothing and watches.

BMW among the items to be auctionedBMW among the items to be auctioned
BMW among the items to be auctioned

Detective Inspector Bev Foster, from Lancashire Police, said: “I am pleased that not only have we been able to bring these people to justice, but we have also stripped Welsh of his ill gotten gains.

“He lived a lavish lifestyle off the back of his criminality without any other known sources of income or financial support. This sends out a clear message to anyone involved in the supply of drugs as well as the wider public.

“It shows that crime doesn’t pay and we will do all that we can to ensure that criminals do not benefit financially from their illegal activities.

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‘We are committed to tackling the supply of drugs and the harm they cause to our communities and we will continue to ensure that anyone who is involved in such criminality is brought before the courts.”

10-berth yacht among the items to be auctioned10-berth yacht among the items to be auctioned
10-berth yacht among the items to be auctioned

On June 10, 2015 police executed a warrant at an address on Admiral View, Queens Promenade in Blackpool where officers recovered more than 300g of cocaine and more than£2,800 in cash.

In addition, more than 260g of amphetamine and more than 12g of cannabis were seized. Welsh, 47, of Briar Road, Thornton; Stephen Wignall, 49, of Admiral View, Blackpool; Julie Welsh, 47, of Portsmouth Close, Cleveleys; Gary Johnson, 57, of Warren Drive, Anchorsholme; Christopher Bateman, 39, of Briar Road, Thornton and Steven Parkinson, 30, of Woodgate Street, Bolton, were sentenced at Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine.

A seventh person, Joseph Miller, 18, of Warren Drive, Thornton, was given a suspended sentence.

The drugs were being bought in Botlon and couriered to the Fylde coast.

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