£1,570 confiscated from woman by police at rave in Wales

A WOMAN who attended a rave party in Wales had £1,570 confiscated following a police investigation.

Hundreds of clubbers had attended the party at Pontin's in Prestatyn, North Wales, over the weekend.

With the help of staff, North Wales Police searched vehicles as they arrived and used sniffer dogs to look for drugs and cash.

Officers arrested six people on suspicion of drug dealing and issued around 80 cautions, also mainly for drug-related offences, between 9pm on Saturday and 7am on Sunday.

Sasha Osborne, 33, of Redhill Road, Arnold, had £1,570 confiscated but was not one of those arrested.

Yesterday, magistrates sitting at a proceeds of crime hearing said the cash should be retained.

Detective Constable Keith Baxendale, of North Wales Police finance investigation unit, told Prestatyn Magistrates' Court that Osborne's chalet had been sealed and searched after large numbers of people were seen outside the premises. Officers found £1,570 in 15 bundles in her handbag.

When interviewed, Osborne, said the money had been given to her by friends to help her pay off £33,000 in debts.

Mr Baxendale told the court that on Monday he had a lengthy telephone conversation with Gal Sasson, 21, of the same address in Arnold, who had been sharing Osborne's chalet.

"During the conversation the story altered and he said he wanted the money back immediately because he wanted to travel back to Israel this week," he said. "Frankly, we don't believe the explanation."

Magistrates approved an application under the Proceeds of Crime Act for the money to be retained for three months while investigations are carried out.

Granting the application, chairman Andrew Pritchard said: "We agree that there are reasonable grounds for suspicion."

A Pontin's spokeswoman said: "Pontin's has a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs and any other behaviour which negatively affects other guests. This applies to anyone on its centres and the company works closely with the police and other bodies."

tanya.holden@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk