Police in Maidstone arrested 26-year-old Jack Young-Larter after discovering he accepted Pokémon trading cards as payment for illegal drugs. A May 1 search of his home uncovered roughly 110g of cannabis, more than 25g of cocaine, two phones with incriminating messages and videos, £2,000 in cash, and a box of high-value collectible cards. The items are now under a Deprivation Order and Young-Larter was sentenced to three years and four months and ordered to forfeit his card collection.
UK Man Sentenced After Accepting Pokémon Cards As Payment For Drugs
[Image Credit: Kent Police]
A 26-year-old man in Maidstone has been sentenced after investigators discovered he was accepting collectible Pokémon cards in lieu of cash payment for illegal drugs. Officers executed a warrant on May 1 and seized drugs, cash, phones and a box of trading cards described as having "high monetary value." The seized items are now subject to a Deprivation Order and will not be returned.
The defendant, Jack Young-Larter, was detained by Kent Police at about 5:54 a.m. on May 1. During a search of his home, officers recovered roughly 110 grams of cannabis and more than 25 grams of cocaine, two mobile phones, weighing scales, empty deal bags and approximately £2,000 in cash, according to a Kent Police press release.
Investigators reviewed messages on the phones that showed Young-Larter accepting payments by cash, bank transfer and, notably, Pokémon trading cards. One message thread captured on the device read: "Instead of paying me the 40£ you owe me, can you or can you get someone you know to rob be box of tins of Pokemon cards, (sealed packs) / And I will take off your debt / & also if you get loads / I'll pay good for them." Videos on the phones also showed him "stashing packets of drugs for customers to collect."
Sentence And Seizure
Young-Larter was sentenced to three years and four months' imprisonment and ordered to forfeit his trading card collection. Police say the collection and other seized items are now the subject of a Deprivation Order, meaning they will not be returned to him.
Detective Constable Emily Hill said: "Trading Pokémon cards is a fun activity for all ages, but substances are dangerous; they destroy communities, and — in the worst cases — leave friends and families bereft."
Kent Police confirmed the investigation into the supply of cocaine and cannabis in the area remains ongoing.
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