A convicted cannabis dealer has been ordered to surrender more than £20,000.

Brandon Tucker, from Folkestone was ordered to hand over the cash during a confiscation hearing held at Canterbury Crown Court.

The order was made under the Proceeds of Crime Act and was granted after financial investigators from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate were able to show he was in possession of £20,824 which had been gained as a result of his criminality.

The 28-year-old must surrender the money within three months or risk further time behind bars.

The ruling was made 15 months after Tucker was sentenced for dealing cannabis.

Tucker was found in possession of a large amount of the drug after officers attended his home, in Enbrook Road, in September 2018.

While at the address, they found the cannabis and a large quantity of cash. He went on to admit possessing the Class B drug with intent to supply and was jailed for 17 months.

DCI Patrick Milford, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "This is a great example of the Proceeds of Crime Act being used and is a testament to the skills of our financial investigators, who diligently put together cases to stop criminals benefiting from their offences.

"Tucker was prepared to make money through selling an illegal substance and, although he was rightfully imprisoned for the offence, it would be wholly unjust if he was allowed to reap the benefits of his ill-gotten gains.

"The money will now be re-invested into policing, and the criminal justice system."

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