Crawley man who claimed he was driving to Kent to ‘cut his friends’ hair’ jailed after £300,000 seized

Officers spotted the hired Renault Clio frequently stopping in Deal on Saturday May 9 and suspected it may have been involved in drug dealing, Kent Police said.

A spokesman added: “When the car was searched, officers found £314,885 divided between two bags and the driver, Ricky Lewis, was arrested.

“Lewis, 35, initially told officers he had driven to Kent to cut his friends’ hair and did not realise the cash was in the car. However, he offered no explanation for how he came by the money.”

When Lewis’ home in Wakehurst Drive, Crawley, West Sussex was searched, officers found a Taser, police said. He refused to answer any questions about the cash when he was interviewed and was charged with possession of criminal property and unlawful possession of a weapon.

The spokesman said: “Lewis admitted both charges at Canterbury Crown Court on Monday June 8 and was jailed for two years and two months on Friday July 24.”

Detective Inspector Emma Lawry, Kent Police’s senior investigating officer, added: “Lewis was found in a hire car with a huge amount of money, the origin of which he has repeatedly refused to explain.

“I would like to commend the alertness of our local officers on the night, which has resulted in a considerable amount of criminal property being removed from circulation.

“Kent Police will not tolerate offenders coming into our county from others area of the country and we will do everything we can to disrupt their operations and seize property.”