A DRUG dealer behind a "sophisticated" cannabis factory made almost £12,000 from his activities, a court was told.

Peter France, 48, could have produced drugs to the tune of £10,000 a crop from his terrace home on Whitworth Street, Nelson, Burnley Crown Court had earlier heard.

France was jailed for three years and nine months in January after admitting cultivating cannabis, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, abstracting electricity and possession of amphetamine and cannabis.

The court was told at a proceeds of crime hearing on Monday how the defendant had benefited by £11,607 from the offences.

The amount available to hand over to the police was £2,750 in the form of a ring which was already in the possession of officers and would now be sold.

Judge Beverley Lunt ordered the cash should be paid within six months and told France if it wasn't he would serve an extra 30 days behind bars.

She also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of all the drugs involved in the case.

The hearing was told £4,500 in cash seized from France was the subject of a forfeiture order in the magistrates court.

At the earlier sentence hearing the court had been told how police discovered the "factory", which had taken over most of the house, after raiding France's then home. Drugs experts estimated that each crop grown at the premises would yield around £10,000 worth of cannabis.

Air conditioning units, fans and a ventilation system leading to the attic were discovered during the police search.

Cocaine and cannabis resin were also found in plastic bags dotted around the house. Police also uncovered £2,215 in a safe under the stairs, £925 from a jacket pocket and £1,195 in loose change was in a cupboard. Almost 50 cannabis plants had been growing with the help of high-powered lights.

France claimed he had got money troubles after taking out a £26,000 loan to modernise his home. He said he had been a recreational user of drugs and set up his own growing operation to try and pay off his debts.

The defendant, who was said to have been suffering from depression, admitted dealing in cocaine, but only to friends.

Judge Norman Wright had told France he had set up a "highly sophisticated" drugs factory at his home.