Officers from Lancashire Police's Financial Investigation Unit detained the money under the Proceeds of Crime Act back in September 2007 following a routine stop-check on his car by police on Central Drive in Morecambe.

Steven Williamson, 26, of Within Lea in Bamber Bridge was found in possession of cannabis and approximately £500 cash.

He was arrested on suspicion of intent to supply and later charged with possession with intent to supply cannabis resin.

In May 2008 he was sentenced to eight months in prison for his drugs offences.

Following his arrest, a search of his address on Within Lea in Bamber Bridge where bundles of cash were found hidden behind a large picture frame in the kitchen wall totalling £4,000. A further £210 was uncovered in the kitchen draw and bedroom.

The in-depth search by officers also exposed a large quantity of cannabis resin that was found secreted in the extractor fan hood of the cooker in the kitchen.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Constabulary's Southern Division Financial Investigation Unit said: "Proceeds of Crime legislation provides the police with significant opportunities to punish criminal activity where it hurts them the most, in their pocket.

"Any persons who are found to have benefited financially from their criminal lifestyle can now expect to not only be brought to justice before the courts, but to have their cash and assets stripped from them.

"There is no get out clause in this legislation as the criminal will be imprisoned for failure to pay back the debt. This further period of imprisonment will not wipe the slate clean and the debt will still be theirs to pay.

"For property to be identified as the proceeds of crime, the burden of proof is the civil one of 'on the balance of probabilities', rather than the criminal one of 'beyond a reasonable doubt'."

Williamson disclaimed the money and the full £4,710 has been forfeited at court under the Proceeds of Crime Act.