Luxury items stripped from Class A drug supplier from South Glocs
Joe Hatherall was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison for his significant role in the distribution of cocaine and heroin throughout the South West
A convicted drug dealer from South Gloucestershire has been ordered to pay back a portion of his illicit earnings following a comprehensive investigation by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU).
Joe Hatherall was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison for his significant role in the distribution of cocaine and heroin throughout the South West. His sentence was part of a larger legal effort in November 2025, which saw four individuals brought to justice.
Hatherall's criminal gains were calculated by SWROCU’s financial investigation team to be over £1 million. However, Bristol Crown Court determined his available assets to total £161,924.46. As a result, a confiscation order was issued for this amount on 5th June.
Assets to be sold
To fulfill the order, assets seized during his arrest will be auctioned.
These include a Land Rover worth roughly ÂŁ39,000, an Audemars Piguet watch valued at ÂŁ40,000, and designer items reaching a value of ÂŁ9,655 from luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Christian Louboutin, and Givenchy.
Additional hidden assets uncovered in the investigation, such as a jet ski valued at ÂŁ10,000 and two Rolex watches worth ÂŁ8,565 and ÂŁ11,350 respectively, add further value.
Moreover, approximately ÂŁ42,000 in cryptocurrency was also confiscated.
Impact of seizure
Peter Highway from SWROCU commented on the prosecution, stating: “Hatherall is a career criminal motivated by financial gain and the lure of a luxury lifestyle."
He added: “He enjoyed driving a high-end car, wearing designer clothes and owning luxury watches, but our financial investigation team has worked diligently to deprive him of the lifestyle he was funding by supplying heroin and cocaine in our communities."
Highway also mentioned that the money recovered will be redirected towards law enforcement efforts targeting serious and organised crime.