Gangster's 拢20k fancy footwear auctioned off
Hundreds of people bid for the 22-year-old criminal's extensive collection of Gucci, Balenciaga and Christian Louboutin trainers.
Saturday 23 February 2019 20:51, UK
Almost 拢20,000 worth of designer trainers belonging to a convicted gangster have been sold as part of a police auction for nearly 拢5,000.
The 55 pairs in the collection, which included high-end brands such as Gucci, Balenciaga, Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo, were sold to bidders around the world.
They had initially been bought by Isaiah Hanson-Frost, who was later sentenced to six years in jail for shooting a gun at a car carrying rival gang members.
Gloucestershire Constabulary, which seized the £18,500 haul following his arrest, said the proceeds from the auction would go towards "fighting crime".
In a tweet, the force said: "The designer shoe collection sold for nearly £5,000 last night - there were just short of 600 bidders from as far afield as Trinidad, Romania and the US.
"Funds will go towards projects across the county which help deter young people away from criminality."
At a hearing in November, last year, Hanson-Frost denied possession of criminal property but agreed to hand over his trainer collection.
He was jailed in April 2018 after admitting violent disorder and possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
The 22-year-old was cleared of possession of criminal property when prosecutors dropped the case and was allowed to keep any Nike trainers worth less than £100.
In the lead up to this week's auction, Detective Inspector Dave Shore-Nye said it showed officers' commitment to stripping the assets of those who have been funded through crime.
"We often see the reason for someone to commit crime is down to their own personal greed and to make money," he said.
"We are keen to put a stop to anyone who is living a lavish lifestyle which has been funded through crime and this shows the level Gloucestershire Constabulary will go to in order to strip a criminal of their assets and then put the money to good use."