A CONVICTED drug dealer made £1.1 million from his life of crime, a court heard.

Paul Yearsley is disputing the amount at a proceeds of crime hearing at Manchester Crown Court, which is expected to last until the end of next week.

The 47-year-old is alleged to owe the court the sum after investigators combed through his financial records.

Yearsley lives at Knowsley Manor, Chorley New Road, which featured has in Lancashire Life magazine.

The £4 million home boasts a cinema, bar lounge and indoor swimming pool.

But he may not be forced to sell his home, if he can settle his bill with other assets, the court heard.

At the end of the case, the judge will decide how much he owes and it will be up to Yearsley how he pays the debt.

Yearsley, an ex-council worker, was jailed for five years, four months in January 2011. He is now out of prison and sat behind his barrister in court.

In December 2009, Yearsley went to Middlebrook Retail Park, Horwich, to meet drugs couriers Frederick Hoyle and Tony Dixon.

The gang was caught on CCTV in the Premier Inn car park before they drove to the Thatch and Thistle pub in Chorley Road, where Yearsley oversaw the handover of 120 kilos of cannabis resin.

Serious Organised Crime Agency officers, who had put Yearsley under surveillance, interrupted the operation and all three were arrested.

At court yesterday, SOCA financial investigator Adrian Steele gave evidence about Yearsley’s financial history.

He said Yearsley had no evidence to back up many of his transactions.

An example was the sale of a £26,000 Mercedes for which there was no documentation.

The court heard the financial records were complicated with a number of companies and deposits involved.

Richard Christie QC, prosecuting, said: “In short, it is a very confused picture?”

Mr Steele replied: “Yes indeed.”

The case continues.