A man being chased by police after officers arrived at his girlfriend’s Carlisle home dumped a bag containing just over £22,000 into a wheelie bin, magistrates heard.

The dramatic account was given to the city’s Rickergate court as Cumbria Police applied to continue holding the cash while their investigation of an alleged city cannabis factory continues.

The man who police say ditched the bag full of cash – Jordan Lee Carney – declined to attend the hearing.

Making the application under Proceeds of Crime legislation, Cumbria Police financial investigator Duncan Watson said the case followed a police raid on a house in Scalegate Road, Carlisle, last Thursday afternoon. Inside the property, officers found what they believe was a ‘cannabis factory.'

A man found at the address was arrested on suspicion of drug-related offences, the court heard.

Inside the house officers also found information which prompted them to investigate a second property in Henderson Road, Currock.

The address was where Mr Carney, 23, lives with his partner, said Mr Watson. He told magistrates: “Police kept observations on the address.”

“Officers noted Mr Carney going in through the back door of the premises.

“Police arrived at the front door to do a search and Mr Carney was seen to run out of the back door.”

Carrying a JD drawstring sports bag, he ran across a number of back gardens as he was pursued by police officers.

“In the back garden [to the rear of one house], he was seen to put something in a wheelie bin.

“Mr Carney was arrested and the item in the wheelie bin was recovered. It was a string bag with approximately £22,000 in bank notes inside.”

Mr Watson said Carney was subsequently arrested on suspicion of conspiring to produce cannabis.

He made no comment when he was questioned about the cash and the alleged cannabis factory, the court was told.

Mr Carney was told about the police application to keep the cash for an initial period of six months but did not turn up for the hearing, magistrates were told.

After hearing the application, magistrates said they would grant the temporary seizure of the £22,204.

Last week, police issued a statement about the investigation.

It said: “Officers from the Local Focus team recovered a large number of cannabis plants from a property in Scalegate Road, Currock, as well as further evidence which was seized from a second property on Henderson Road. A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of the cultivation of cannabis and has since been released under investigation. A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of money laundering and possession of criminal property and has since been released on police bail."