A WHEELCHAIR-bound drug dealer who sold cocaine and cannabis has forfeited almost £5,000 which was seized by police when he was arrested.

Charles Goble, 65, was found with the money when his high value Drugs business was smashed by police two years ago.

Goble’s wife had initially claimed some of the cash was hers, a judge at Swindon Crown Court was told.

But she then accepted the money was her husband’s and he has signed a disclaimer allowing the authorities to keep it along with any interest which had accrued.

As a result prosecutors dropped an application under the Proceeds of Crime Act which could have led to Goble being liable for tens of thousands of pounds.

Although he would only have had to pay what he could if an order under the new law was passed, he could have had to repay any benefit he made from crime should he come into money in the future.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, said: “The matter became complicated because the defendant’s wife claimed a proprietary interest in these monies but has now, as I understand, relinquished such claim.”

He said the defendant had signed a consent form to allow the £4,940 plus any interest to be forfeited under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Andrew Hobson, defending, said though his client was due to be in court for the hearing, he had declined to attend because of his ill health.

Judge Euan Ambrose made the forfeiture order and discharged any action under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Goble, Park Way, Siddington, Cirencester, was jailed for seven years and eight months after he admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis.

The court heard he ran an operation where the drugs were bought from as far afield as Birmingham and London and sold on to dealers in the Cirencester and Swindon areas.

One drop was observed at the Spotted Cow in Coate, Swindon.

Goble and an accomplice handed over a bag of cash and later collected a consignment of cannabis.

Along with Goble, his neighbour Brian Brunton, who acted as ‘a lieutenant’, was jailed for five years and two other men were also sent to prison.

Sentencing the pensioner Judge Douglas Field told him: “You are in the most serious position.

“You were responsible for this operation and I am quite satisfied that considerable quantities of drugs were involved and you were pulling the strings directing the operation.”