A convicted drug dealer has been ordered to pay back more than £63,000 earned through his criminal activity.

If Andrew Ellis, 43, from Gladeside, Shirley, does not pay the full amount within six months, he will face eighteen months imprisonment and still be made to pay the total sum.

The order was made by Judge Waller at Croydon Crown Court on January 12 and follows Ellis’ conviction for possession with intent to supply cannabis in November 2007, for which he was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment.

Ellis was convicted after the court heard that he was in possession of almost four kilos of cannabis when he was arrested in April 2007 at his home address.

Following Ellis’ sentencing in 2007, Croydon Police’s Payback Unit conducted a financial investigation and discovered that Ellis had sold a property for more than £80,000 and owned two BMW cars.

The total amount officers established he had received through ill-gotten gains was £306,141.

Detective Constable Joseph Ryan from Croydon Police’s Payback Unit, said: “Drug dealers cause much misery and make a lot of money from their crime and this confiscation order is a step towards making sure that criminals pay.

"We will pursue those profiting from crime and seek to strip away all available assets deemed to be the benefit of criminal conduct.

"Some of the money that has been confiscated will come back to the police to help investigate other people like Ellis.”

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