A DRUG dealer hid wraps of heroin and crack cocaine in a sock has been forced to hand over £1,057.

The money was found on Abdul Hassan when his Nissan Qashqai was stopped by police.

Hassan had admitted the drugs were his but claimed to police that the cash belonged to his mother.

He is currently in prison serving a two year sentence, imposed in February, for his crime but appeared via a video link at Manchester Crown Court, for a proceeds of crime hearing.

Brendan O'Leary, defending Hassan, says he now does not object to the money, which is still with the police, being confiscated and the drugs forfeited and destroyed along with an extendable baton which was also recovered.

Philip Hall, prosecuting, said that Hassan had benefited from his crime to the tune of £2,403.72 — the value of the cash and drugs — but the only money available to him was the cash seized by police.

Judge Graeme Smith made an order for Hassan, aged 28, of Beaconsfield Street, Deane to hand over £1,057.24 within 28 days or face an extra 14 days in prison.

Mr O'Leary said: "The money is in the possession of the police so it is unlikely, in the circumstances, that the order will not be paid."

Judge Smith added: "The default sentence, although it is entirely academic in this case, will be 14 days."

At Hassan's sentencing hearing in February Brian Berlyne, prosecuting, told how police had stopped the defendant's car in Chorley New Road, Bolton, just after midnight on August 11, 2018.

Inside the vehicle an extendable baton was found along with the 34 wraps of drugs, with a street value of more than £1,200 as well as £1,057 cash. The heroin had a purity of up to 85 percent.

"In interview Mr Hassan admitted the drugs were his. He denied intending to supply them and said the cash belonged to his mother," said Brian Berlyne.

Hassan subsequently pleaded guilty to possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply.

John Marsh, defending, stressed that Hassan is of previous good character and there has been delays in bringing the case to court.

He added that Hassan had been dealing to friends and contacts to support his own drug habit after he started using cocaine because he found it difficult to hide his drinking from his mother.

"This is a fall from grace which is quick and spectacular," he said.

"He is well educated, well spoken and has a charismatic, pleasant, outgoing personality who is extremely ashamed of what he has done."

Jailing Hassan the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Martin Walsh, told him: "Anybody who involves themselves in the supply of Class A drugs causes significant damage to the public interest.

"These courts regularly see individuals whose lives are blighted by addiction to drugs and communities have to live with the devastating consequences of those who resort to crime to feed their addiction."