A CONVICTED drug dealer has had thousands of pounds in illegal assets confiscated.

Thomas Davison, 38, of Collingwood Street, Sunderland, was jailed for 21 months in September after admitting three charges of possession with intent to supply.

At Durham Crown Court, this week, Judge Gerard Harkins ordered that more than £30,000 of Davison's money should be seized.

Detective Inspector John Watts, of Sunderland City CID, said: "This is a message to drug dealers that they may want to reconsider their New Year's resolution and resolve not to deal in drugs.

"Not only do drugs damage people's health and lead young people into crime, they can also lead to substantial prison sentences for dealers, who could also lose their financial assets such as houses, cars and all the money which we find."

At September's hearing, the court was told that Davison had buried 3kg of cannabis resin, with an estimated value of £4,300, and £7,500 in cash, on the allotment plot he rented.

A search of his home led to the recovery of cannabis resin and amphetamine sulphate worth £7,180, and cash totalling £9,500.

The court was told that Davison was on a drugs-free wing in prison, in an attempt to break his drugs habit.

Last month, the Government appointed Kate Collins as interim head of asset recovery in England and Wales.

Miss Collins is responsible for driving forward work on the national asset recovery strategy, pending legislation to strengthen confiscation powers, and the establishment of a National Confiscation Agency.