A COUPLE involved in the supply of crack cocaine have been ordered to pay back the profits of their crimes - or face spending longer in jail.

John Joseph Martin, 46, and Morag Sarah Adams, both of Mosley Street, in the Infirmary area of Blackburn, were told they must pay back more than £20,000 into the public purse.

They will have to sell jewellery and a car to meet the bill, Preston Crown Court was told.

Martin is serving a four-and-a-half year jail sentence after pleading guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

Police found cocaine with a street value of £1,495 at the house.

Adams is serving 18 months for allowing her premises to be used for the supply of Class A drugs.

They were both jailed last summer.

At a confiscation hearing at the court yesterday, the defendants were said to have benefited from around £50k during their criminal activities.

Martin and Adams were ordered to pay back £13,614 and £8,774 respectively.

Stuart Neale, prosecuting, said the cash would be recouped by the sale of belongings found at the pair's home after their arrest.

He said jewellery had been recovered and would be sold at auction.

Mr Neale said that family could bid for jewellery of sentimental value and said Martin's car, which had been loaned to a friend, would also have to be sold.

Judge Anthony Russell QC warned that the pair would face a further 12 months in prison if they failed to pay back the money by July.

Detective Sergeant Kathryn Cussans, of Blackburn Police's financial investigations team, said: "The result illustrates Lancashire police's commitment to tracking down those criminals who cause misery in our communities through their drug dealing activities.

"The confiscation of Adams and Martins' assets will deprive them from benefiting from their criminal enterprise and allow money to be reinvested for the benefit of the community."