Sandy drug dealer who texted police by mistake ordered to hand over £49,000

A drug dealer who was jailed after accidentally sending details of his drug line to a police officer has now been ordered to hand over tens of thousands of pounds made through his criminal activity.

Jack Johannesen, from Sandy, appeared at a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing where he was told to repay £49,331.14 — the amount a court ruled he had gained from dealing drugs across Biggleswade and Sandy.

Johannesen was jailed in July 2025 after being convicted of supplying cannabis, crack cocaine and heroin. The case against him began the previous October when police carried out a warrant at his home and arrested him for being concerned in the supply of drugs.

Officers seized several mobile phones from the property, including one found in a kitchen bin which Johannesen had tried to destroy. Messages recovered from the devices showed more than 400 contacts had been sent details of drugs for sale and their prices.

He was released on bail a few hours later, but just eight days on, Johannesen registered a new phone and attempted to restart dealing. Instead, he mistakenly sent a message advertising his new drug line to a police officer’s work phone — one of the officers involved in the original search.

A second warrant was executed at his address on 28 November, leading to his arrest on suspicion of supplying both class A and class B drugs. Police seized cannabis, nearly £2,000 in cash, and high-value designer items. Another mobile phone was discovered hidden behind a wardrobe after it started ringing during the search.

Johannesen, then aged 23, was sentenced at Luton Crown Court to two years and ten months in prison.

At the recent confiscation hearing, the court ordered him to repay £49,331.14. Of that total, £7,535 must be paid by May, or he will face an additional six months in prison. The remaining balance would still be owed after his release.

Detective Constable Adam Geary, from Bedfordshire Police, said the case showed that criminal profits would not be allowed to stand.

“Crime does not pay. These cases underline a simple message: you don’t get to keep the profits of crime,” he said.
“Even after serving a prison sentence, offenders are pursued for every penny of their ill-gotten gains.

“Delving into drug supply might appear profitable in the short term, but those gains are temporary. Officers will continue to track, trace and remove every asset linked to criminal behaviour.”