A CONTESTED proceeds of crime hearing will be held to decide how much a cocaine-dealing former teacher made from his illicit activities.

Michael Andrew Younghusband was jailed for three years and four months after admitting possessing cocaine with intent to supply, at Durham Crown Court last September.

Co-accused Keith Thomas Brumwell, who admitted two similar charges, received a prison sentence of four years and four months at the same hearing.

It followed police observation of a hand-over of a package by Brumwell to Younghusband at a rendezvous in a car park near Penshaw Monument, on Wearside, on August 21 last year.

Police recovered the package, containing three-quarters of a kilogram of cocaine, from Younghusband’s BMW car after stopping it in nearby Newbottle minutes after the collection.

The court heard that £7,000 in £1,000 bundles was recovered from Younghusband’s home in Kingswood, Penshaw.

Police arrested 28-year-old Brumwell on his return to his home in Basingstoke Road, Peterlee, from where a further 40.7g of cocaine, plus items used in preparation and dealing of the class A drug, were recovered.

The court heard that the offence cost 30-year-old Younghusband his job of nine years as a geography and maths teacher at Dene Community School, in Peterlee.

Both defendants were brought back to court today (Friday February 21) following inquiries under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) to see what can be confiscated from the pair.

John Gillette, for the prosecution, said the estimated worth of the recovered drugs has been revised, to give it a valuation based on wholesale rather than street prices.

In Younghusband’s case the figure is now £16,740, rather than the original estimate in street sale terms of £29,760, while with Brumwell it is now £17,676.

Mr Gillette said the total benefit from Younghusband’s activities was now put at £32,271, while for Brumwell it is £29,031.

But Jane Foley, for Younghusband, and Laura Miller, for Brumwell, said while accepting the new drug valuations, both contest the overall estimated benefit made by their clients.

Judge Paul Watson, therefore, adjourned the case for a day-long POCA confiscation hearing, to be held at the court on Thursday June 26.