AN international drugs dealer from Darwen has been ordered to hand over almost half a million pounds under the Proceeds of Crime legislation.

Gerald Deaffern, was jailed for 25 years in December, 2004, after being convicted of two charges of conspiracy to to supply cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, amphetamine and cannabis between 2000 and March 2003.

Police applied to seize his assets claiming that he had benefited from his criminal behaviour to the tune of almost £11million.

After a two day, high security, hearing at Liverpool Crown Court Judge Denis Clark found that he had benefitted by £10,849,000.

Evidence was called by the prosecution about the ownership of Deaffern's home in Sunny Hill Close, Darwen, and another property in Redearth Road, Darwen.

Judge Clark ruled that they belonged to Deaffern and he agreed that they and other personal items, together worth a total of £456,663, should be seized as his realisable assets.

He told 41-year-old Deaffern, who did not give evidence during the hearing, that that sum must be paid within 12 months or he will serve two years consecutive to his current sentence.

When Judge Clark jailed Deaffern he described him as "a Mr Big in the North West of England."