A drug dealer who sold his house to conceal his criminal activity has been ordered to pay back cash or face more jail time.

An operation led by Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) Leigh neighbourhood policing team led to Damien Robinson being convicted.

He admitted possession of cannabis and possession of diazepam with the intent to supply.

The investigation began when police noticed him driving erratically on Cowper Street, Leigh.

The Bolton News: Drugs were found

The 54-year-old, of Pennine Grove, Leigh, was pulled over and cannabis and cash were found.

Police then searched his house and seized cannabis and diazepam.

The total value of illicit items seized was £51,310.

At Bolton Crown Court he was ordered to repay £110,633.

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A financial investigation uncovered that at the time he was selling his house.

The money made from this sale was transferred to a third party in an attempt to hide his money from the police.

Around £76,000 of the amount he must repay is from this.

The Bolton News: An item recovered

If he fails to pay this within three months he faces further jail time.

Detective Inspector Pat Wood,  of GMP's Wigan district, said: “This latest order sends a strong message to criminals that even if your time in jail is coming to an end, we will use every power available to ensure you cannot come back out and continue with your lavish lifestyle that’s funded through crime.

“This highlights the importance of asset recovery and confiscation investigations which run alongside our criminal investigations. It enables us to maximise our opportunities to recover significant money which has derived from crime, at the expense of vulnerable people in our communities.

“A proportion of this will now be reinvested back into the communities of Greater Manchester via our Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme."