WORK is continuing in a bid to strip criminal assets from an ex-police officer who ran a massive cannabis farm from his Eden Valley home, a court has heard.

David Allen, 68, was jailed last July after police discovered the drug factory in Calthwaite, close to a school. Officers had been alerted to a strong smell of the illegal drug emanating from Allen’s rented property.

They discovered a “professional grow” of 80 cannabis plants and the use of high end, specialist equipment described to maximise the yield.

A judge who sentenced Allen learned seven crops could have been produced during a 140-week period of illegal activity.

This could have potentially yielded up to 42kg of the substance with a possible wholesale value of between £50,400 and £336,000.

Knives, a crossbow and air rifles were located in strategic positions as protection for the cannabis farm.

The court also heard a financial probe of Allen’s personal and business accounts had identified unexplained cash deposits totalling more than £425,000; and money transfers to an partner in the Philippines.

Allen, who also gave almost 25 years’ service to his country as a soldier, was jailed for 43 months.

Yet financial investigations by police to claw back the profits of his criminal activity are continuing, backed by tough Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) legislation.

In order for a judge to rule how much money should be confiscated from a criminal, two sums need to be calculated and agreed — the benefit figure and available amount.

A hearing took place at Carlisle Crown Court on Friday to discuss the progress of the POCA application in his case.

Allen was present over a video link, his barrister Brendan Burke saying 'serious problems' due to Covid had prevented the prisoner being transported to court.

Mr Burke confirmed no agreement had yet been reached in the POCA proceedings. “Everything in this case is disputed: both the benefit figure and available amount so there is going to have to be a contested hearing where he would have to be realistically here (at court) to give instructions and to give evidence,” he said.

This was listed for August 8. In the meantime Judge Nicholas Barker directed, as case work continues, that a “note of agreement and disagreement” should be prepared by the respective legal terms by the end of March.