A MOTORIST whose fast driving attracted the attention of police on the M6 was carrying a rucksack crammed with bundles of suspect cash.

At Carlisle’s Rickergate court, a Cumbria Police financial investigator lodged an application to continue holding the money for a further four months so that officers can continue to investigate its origin.

The investigator outlined how the cash was seized.

“There was an incident on Friday afternoon [December 2], just before 4pm,” said the police investigator. “Officers in an unmarked vehicle on patrol on the southbound M6 just before the Penrith junction noticed a vehicle coming up behind them at high speed.

“It passed them in the third lane.”

Due to the way the motorist was driving, police activated their blue lights and sirens and indicated that the driver should pull over. “It took him some distance before he pulled over on to the hard shoulder,” said the investigator.

When questioned, the driver apologised, claiming that he had not seen the police car’s blue flashing lights. While speaking to the officers, the driver appeared “a bit nervous”, the court heard. There was also a passenger in his car.

When police searched the car under misuse of drugs legislation, they found the rucksack containing the cash on the back seat. Police estimate there was about £12,000 in the bag.

The driver said he collected the money from a friend in Glasgow and he was taking it to his uncle in London. The passenger denied any knowledge of the money while the driver declined to provide a number for his uncle so his story could be checked.

“It could have been sorted out with a phone call but he refused to give further details,” said the investigator. He added that the police wanted to continue holding the cash for a further four months so that enquiries can continue.

This will include a forensic examination of the money and an investigation of the driver’s finances. The man involved, a 30-year-old who lives in London, was not present in court for the hearing. Magistrates approved the police application, which was made under Proceeds of Crime legislation.