A COURT has granted the forfeiture of more than £17,500 worth of cash found in a car stopped by police.

Northallerton Magistrates’ Court ordered the money be handed over on the grounds that the money was derived from crime on Friday, December 6.

The court heard that the money was discovered inside a Vauxhall Corsa driven by Shaun Andrew Illingworth, 26, from Imperial Court, Ashton Avenue, York.

The car was stopped at 6.20pm on September 20, 2012 after it was followed by police along the A64 near Tadcaster.

Officers followed the car on to Grange Lane in York before it came to a stop near some isolated houses.

Officers intercepted the occupants of the car who were Shaun Illingworth and another man. A search of the Corsa was carried out with the assistance of a police search dog and the money was found inside the glove box in a supermarket carrier bag.

The two men were transported to York police station and searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Although there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges against the pair, a lengthy investigation by financial investigators showed that the money could not have been earned through legitimate means.

An application was made under the Proceeds of Crime Act for the forfeiture of the money.