A JUDGE has approved the forfeiture of almost £4,000 cash from a previously convicted Carlisle drug dealer.

At the city’s magistrates’ court on Friday morning, a Cumbria police financial investigator made a formal application for money to be taken from the man, who is aged in his 30s.

During a short hearing, district judge John Temperley summarised the case put forward by the officer.

On February 27 this year, the man had been arrested in connection with alleged other matters.

As police searched the man, a mobile phone and almost £1,000 cash was recovered. He gave what he said was a legitimate explanation for carrying that sum of money.

“Whilst he was detained, his phone was constantly ringing with various numbers,” said the judge.

“There is considerable intelligence and indeed convictions on his record linking him with drugs supply in Carlisle and the surrounding areas.”

The man’s home was also searched by officers who found “general paraphernalia” linked to drug dealing, and also additional cash.

The man made no comment when interviewed.

Police national computer checks showed he had previous convictions for class A and B drug possession with intent to supply. He had served time in prison and been the subject of previous applications by police asking courts to forfeit what was believed to be criminal cash: in 2014, 2015 and 2021.

No further action had been taken in relation to the matters for which he had originally been arrested on February 27 this year.

Police made an application today for forfeiture of the total £3,765 on the grounds that there was a lack of evidence of the money being legitimately sourced; the amount found; the phone recovered; and the man’s criminal record.

The man did not contest the application and was not present at today’s hearing.

District judge Temperley concluded that the legal test had been met for forfeiture of the money, which he approved.