A DRUG dealer's plans for the holiday of a lifetime were put on hold when police raided his home and seized all his money.

Christopher Costello and his partner Mary Gidney had hoped to use some of the proceeds of unemployed Costello's cannabis dealing to take a luxury break in Jamaica in January this year.

But before they could embark on the trip, their home in Ralph Street, Hebburn, South Tyneside, was raided twice, with drugs and large sums of cash being found.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how, when police called during the first raid in October last year, Costello had a half-rolled cannabis joint in his hand.

When police raided the flat a month later, cannabis was found in a cabinet in the living room.

Julian Smith, prosecuting, told the court: "Costello had an enterprise selling cannabis resin and she (Gidney) was aware of it and involved to a limited extent."

As a result of the raids, officers froze the couple's assets and the travel agents, where the holiday had been paid for in cash, were warned by police to cancel the trip and withold the money used to pay for it.

At Newcastle Crown Court yesterday, Costello, 34, who pleaded guilty to two charges of possession of cannabis with intent to supply, was jailed for nine months. Gidney, 18, was given a conditional discharge for 12 months.

The pair accepted the total profit they made from dealing was £10,220. But the only assets left were £3,369 which Judge Michael Cartlidge seized - including the Jamaica cash from the travel agents.