A man from Norwich jailed for drug dealing has been ordered to pay back more than £77,000 to stress that "crime doesn't pay".

Gary Bowgen, who is currently serving a two-year prison sentence for possession with intent to supply a Class A drug and possession of criminal property, has been ordered to pay back £77,064.88 of his criminal earnings. 

It comes after he was made subject to a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) confiscation order at Norwich Crown Court on October 16. 

The amount owed is the value of all the 56-year-old's current known assets, including seven motorcycles. 

But the figure made from his drug offences was agreed to be £156,000 meaning any further assets up to the value of £78,935.12 can be seized by police.

Officers searched Bowgen's home in Dalrymple Way, Norwich, in August 2020 before discovering him sitting on the sofa holding £1,000 in cash. 

Cocaine with an approximate street value of more than £11,000 was also discovered at the property. 

Gary Bowgen was jailed in JuneGary Bowgen was jailed in June (Image: Norfolk Constabulary) Bowgen admitted to the charges and appeared before Norwich Crown Court on June 14 where he was sentenced. 

Following this, the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) launched a POCA and a confiscation order was granted against Bowgen to recover his illegal earnings. 

The full sum owed must be paid within a certain timeframe and if he fails to do so Bowgen will be made to serve an additional two years in prison while still owing the money. 

EROU's financial investigation manager Tim Underhill said: “Our teams work closely with police forces across the region to ensure that convicted criminals are ordered to repay the money they have made through illicit means. 

“Enquiries clearly showed that Bowgen had made significant sums through drug dealing and it was important that, in addition to his prison sentence, he was made to hand back his illicit gains. 

“We’ll continue to use POCA legislation to ensure that crime doesn’t pay.”