MORE than £700,000 has been confiscated from a man convicted of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

A court has ordered Barry Armstrong, of Brackenhill Avenue, in Shotton Colliery, to pay the sum after a Proceeds of Crime Order.

In February 2013, Armstrong was convicted of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs after a two-week trial at Newcastle Crown Court and he was sentenced to 10 years and nine months in prison.

Although Armstrong had denied the offence, he had pleaded guilty to tax evasion and money laundering at an earlier hearing.

Now aged 51, Armstrong will have to pay £718,772 under the court order.

Financial Investigator Lindsay Toward said: “This has been a long and very complex investigation.

“Serious and organised crime has a major impact on the community and we are committed to supporting those affected and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

“The decision made by the courts to confiscate more than £700,000 from Armstrong should send out the clear message that crime does not pay and we will robustly deal with those involved in this kind of activity.”

Armstrong has three months to pay the money or face a further three-year jail sentence.

A proportion of the money confiscated from Armstrong will be used to support community projects.