A JUDGE has ruled that a drugs courier caught on the M6 near Carlisle benefited from his crime to the tune of £62,816.

But Shaun McCafferty, 33, who is currently serving a prison sentence for being a drugs courier, had available assets worth just £7,364, Carlisle Crown Court heard. Those assets, which included a car worth just over £4,000, were held in in two bank accounts.

Judge Paul Lawton ruled that the money and the car – a Ford Focus – must now be handed over to part-settle the debt.

Those assets must be handed over to the court within the next three months, otherwise he will have to serve an extra four months in jail.

McCafferty, a father of three of Lincombe Road, Liverpool, was caught driving north on the M6 between Penrith and Carlisle on November 6 last year.

After searching his car, police found crack cocaine and heroin hidden inside the car.

The potential street value of the drugs was £37,000.

McCafferty had previous similar convictions – including one in Edinburgh when he was caught with drugs worth £65,000. His barrister said he was a courier and not a dealer.

He acted as a courier to clear his debt to a dealers. He is serving a five and a half year sentence for his crimes.