A DRUG-pushing dad who made £55,000 from dealing in heroin and cocaine has paid the price of his 'lavish lifestyle,' with a four-year jail term.

Burnley Crown Court had heard how father-of-two Paul Sissons ran up a £3,000 car hire bill and had booked a £3,500 dream holiday for his family in Florida - but they never got to enjoy it as he was arrested,

Sissons, 31, whose wife is expecting their third child, was told by Judge Raymond Bennett that he had benefited to the tune of £55,000. He made a confiscation order for £28,000, which was the amount of his realisable assets. Sissons, of Chapelhouse Road, Nelson, admitted possessing cocaine and heroin with intent to supply.

Gordon Hennell, prosecuting, said the defendant was found with four silver foil packets, containing just under 1oz of heroin. Four cling film packages, containing a total of 22 wraps of cocaine - 68.2 grammes, were also found. The street value of drugs seized was about £10,000.

Sissons was taken to Colne police station and officers then went to his home. They discovered a further 37 wraps of crack cocaine and almost £30,000 in cash turned up in different parts of the house.

Mr Hennell said, when interviewed, Sissons admitted possessing the drugs and claimed at that time he was acting under duress. He then owned up to involvement with a group of people for about two years. He was involved in drug supply, not personally at street level or directly supplying drug users, but further up the supply chain.

Mr Hennell added that Sissons lived a lavish lifestyle, using hire cars and booking a family holiday in America.

Philip Andrews, defending, said it was sad Sissons should find himself before the court as he had potential as a legitimate businessman. He had wanted to set up a computer business, and borrowed money.

He became indebted to the lenders and in due course was asked to 'do us a favour' and deliver small packages. When the debt was unpaid, the defendant was threatened by two people. They had a hold over him.

Sissons' wife was seven months pregnant and she had been threatened. She was in considerable fear for her safety.

Mr Andrews added Sissons, who could well have been so successful in business and made a valuable contribution to society, showed considerable regret for what he had done.

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