A MAN cleared of supplying drugs has had his string of houses and luxury cars seized by the police.

Andrew Pickering's £495,000 four-bedroom detached house in Nunthorpe is up for sale.

The home and its contents, seven other houses and two vehicles, including a £46,500 BMW convertible, have been seized by order of the High Court.

When 34-year-old Mr Pickering appeared at Durham Crown Court last February, prosecutor Graham Reeds told the jury Mr Pickering was "living in considerable style which could not have been paid for without drug dealing".'

But Pickering, of Nunthorpe Gardens, was cleared of conspiracy to supply cocaine.

A co-accused at the trial admitted possession of a kilogram of cocaine with intent to supply and was jailed for eight years.

Mr Pickering said that his lifestyle was based on the income from an ice-cream van and buying and selling cars.

During his trial in February last year, Mr Pickering was said to be the owner of several rental properties in the Middlesbrough area.

He was known to own and use several high-class performance cars, including BMWs, Mercedes and, at one time, a top of the range Ferrari. The vast majority of the cars he bought were sold at a loss.

On an application by Cleveland police's Organised Crime Unit, the High Court in London has granted the Assets Recovery Agency an interim receiving order for £648,372.

An interim order ensures that Mr Pickering cannot dispose of the assets while investigations continue.

An interim receiver has been appointed by the High Court to manage Mr Pickering's private and business affairs, including his homes, cars, three bank accounts and all items of value, pending an investigation.

The interim receiver, who is an independent officer of the court, will submit a report to the court in due course. If that report shows the assets represent proceeds of crime, the agency will apply for a civil recovery order.