Former boxer who turned to crime and made tens of thousands to pay back just £1

A former boxer who was involved in the supply of commercial levels of amphetamine and street levels of cocaine has been ordered to pay back just £1 despite benefiting by more than £42,000. Videos were found on his phone showing white powder in a suitcase. Leon Coker, 34, was stopped in a black Audi on the A4054 in the direction of Abercynon on July 2, 2024, and was arrested for an unrelated matter. His phone was seized and downloaded by the police and messages related to drug dealing were discovered, as well as videos showing white powder in a suitcase. There were voice notes on the phone discussing the sale of drugs and images of white packaging filled with white powder. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here On September 11 2024, police executed a search warrant at the defendant's home. During the search, a blue suitcase was seized and was found to contain residue of 8.34g of amphetamine. Weighing scales were also found which contained cocaine and amphetamine residue. A drug expert analysed the defendant's messages and estimated Coker was involved in the supply of 20kg of amphetamine and street dealing levels of cocaine. On September 20, the defendant handed himself into police and claimed he was holding the suitcase on behalf of others. He denied being a drug dealer and said his phone had been used by those who he owed a drug debt to. Coker, of Commercial Street, Aberbargoed, later pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A and B drugs. In mitigation, it was said the defendant had no previous convictions for drug offences, and was acting as a custodian of the drugs. A sentencing hearing heard Coker did not have the lifestyle of someone selling wholesale quantities of drugs, and became involved in drug taking due to his own vulnerabilities. It was said he was taken advantage of by those he owed money to, but was now working to become drug free with the help of the church he attends. Coker was sentenced to a total of 59 months imprisonment, at a sentencing hearing last year. A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, May 21, heard Coker benefited to the tune of £42,186 as a result of his offending, but has no available assets. Judge Shomon Khan ordered the defendant to pay a nominal sum of £1. Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here . We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice .