POLICE issued a warning last night after successfully confiscating thousands of pounds from a man in a landmark court hearing.

Andrew Thomas Burnside, 33, of Coronation Street, Darlington, was stopped by police in July last year after he was seen riding a stolen motorbike.

Officers also found that Burnside was in possession of a small amount of cocaine and, as a result of the discovery, they searched his home.

They found £5,660 in cash, which was immediately seized on suspicion of being the proceeds of crime, as well as some scales and bags.

Last October, Burnside was charged with possession of cocaine and later appeared before magistrates, where he admitted the offence and was given a 12-month conditional discharge.

However, police took the case further, with the first forfeiture hearing of its kind for the Darlington area taking place at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court.

Burnside was ordered to forfeit the money and also to pay £1,500 in costs. He did not contest the forfeiture, but insisted that the money was not the proceeds of drug dealing.

Detective Constable Andy Lynn, of Durham Police, said: "This is the first case of its kind under the Proceeds of Crime Act in the Darlington area and it won't the last.

"Other cases are currently being processed through the legal system."