THREE men who plotted to flood Bournemouth with class A drugs will pay back just over ten per cent of the money they made – but face losing more cash in the future.

Shahed Nowaz, Reece Britt and Sion Jennings were part of a so-called 'county lines' gang bringing cocaine and heroin to Dorset on dates between December 2017 and January 2018.

The men, all of whom are from London, used a single mobile phone line to send blanket text messages to potential customers in Bournemouth.

Britt and Jennings were also seen by police dealing drugs from a Hyundai Tucson over the course of several days. When the pair were arrested on December 15 2017, packages of crack cocaine and heroin were found in the car.

In total the three made £104,312.08. Last week, a court ordered them to repay £14,401.60 between them, or face more time in prison.

Nowaz, 24 and of Vine Close in Hackney, Britt, 26 and of Mitchison Road in Islington, and Jennings, 20 and of Wiltshire Gardens, Harringey, were all jailed in November 2018 after admitting conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Nowaz was sentenced to seven years in prison, Britt was jailed for five years and Jennings was sentenced to two years and eight months behind bars.

A fourth defendant, Sandra Da Conceicao, 44, had allowed the men to use her home in Arcola Street, Hackney, as a 'stash house'. She was jailed for two years.

After they were sentenced, Dorset Police's financial investigation unit launched proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act to claw back some of the money made by the gang.

A judge has now made confiscation orders were made for the available amounts. Britt and Jennings will have to serve an additional term of six months in prison if it is not paid, while Nowaz – the ringleader – must serve nine months if he doesn't pay up.

During the investigation Dorset Police seized more than £5,000 in cash and two vehicles. The cars will now be sold and all the funds will be retained under the confiscation order.

Detective Constable Scott Brimicombe said: “I hope this case is a further demonstration that we will use this legislation where it is available to take illegal earnings from criminals.

“As with all Proceeds of Crime confiscation orders, the outstanding benefit figure is still owed and the case will be reviewed in the future to ascertain if the defendants have acquired further assets.”