A CONFISCATION figure has been agreed in the case of a man said to have been behind a drugs run from Merseyside to the North-East.

Proceeds of Crime inquiries took place in the wake of the convictions, last year, of Alexander Anthony Dobbing and co-accused Wayne Bruce over the transportation of a large cocaine consignment to the region.

Courier Bruce was pulled over by police while driving northwards on the A167, at Plawsworth, near Chester-le-Street, on September 17, 2013.

Packages containing almost two-kilograms of high purity cocaine were recovered from a rear seat of the Vauxhall Insignia.

Durham Crown Court was told if broken down the recovered cocaine carried a potential value of more than £300,000.

Bruce, now 33, of Cedarwood Grove Tunstall, Sunderland, was jailed for three years and four months after admitting possessing a class A drug with intent to supply.

A subsequent proceeds of crime hearing in his case resulted in a confiscation to the value of £5,770, including money recovered from Bruce when the car was pulled over, plus a Rolex watch he was wearing at the time.

Dobbing, now 36, of Burdon Walk, Castle Eden, near Peterlee, was later arrested as a result of mobile phone messaging on Bruce’s phone on the day of the drug pick up in Liverpool.

He admitted conspiracy to supply class A drugs and was jailed for eight years.

A confiscation agreement has now been reached, agreed between Sam Faulks, for the Crown, and Dobbing’s counsel Tony Davis.

It was agreed Dobbing’s benefit from his activities was £199,300, and the available amount for confiscation was £59,030, in equity from the sale a house.

Judge Simon Hickey agreed to those figures and allowed Dobbing six-months to pay.

If the house sale has not been achieved within six months, an extension can be granted for further time to sell the property.