A COCAINE conspirator’s Worcester home has been sold while he’s in prison as police claw back criminal cash made from drug dealing.

Ashley James, who led a Worcester cocaine conspiracy, did not appear at the short proceeds of crime application (POCA) hearing at Worcester Crown Court on Monday.

James, now aged 32, was jailed for 18 years by Judge Robert Juckes QC in November 2017 for the conspiracy and for concealing criminal property, also known as ‘money laundering.’

He spent the proceeds of cocaine dealing on a car, holidays, dental work, luxury hotel stays and presents for his partner.

James, previously of Cherington Close, Worcester, led the conspiracy which brought at least £400,000 (12kg) of cocaine to Worcester.

He was jailed alongside his lieutenants. During various arrests and searches police seized more than £129,000 in cash and over two thirds of a kilo of cocaine worth between £24,000 and £35,000.

The bulk of the cocaine came from Liverpool but some of it was later sourced from Worcester. The conspiracy lasted at least two years, beginning in 2013 and ending in October 2015 when arrests took place.

The police investigation involved bugging James’s Renault Kangoo van to record conversations, the seizure of drugs and analysis of so-called dirty phones, clandestine observations, a dramatic arrest of the drugs courier on the M6 and the arrest of street dealer associates of the main conspirators.

Michael Aspinall, prosecuting, said: “The house was repossessed and sold and realised more than people thought.”

However, he said there had to be a hearing to discuss the actual transfer of the money.

Mr Aspinall said letters had been sent to James at his former address but he had not received them because he was in prison.

“He’s clearly not there. It was actually sent to the house that was repossessed,” said Mr Aspinall.

The barrister applied to have the case adjourned for 28 days so that contact could be made with James.

The case was adjourned for a further hearing on December 23.