Drugs dealer with private zoo to pay back £55k in tax

A DRUGS dealer who used his ill-gotten gains to house a 200-animal private zoo has been ordered to pay the taxpayer back £55,000.

Paul Dunn made his semi-detached a home to snakes, bearded dragons, chickens, goats, sheep, turkeys, rats, hamsters and tortoises. He also dug a 50ft lake for his Koi carp.

But he was also storing crack cocaine, amphetamine, ecstasy, cannabis resin and £86,000 cash.

Dunn, 62, had even been illegally claiming thousands in benefits.

In 2011, the father-of-six was jailed for three years after admitting possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply but now he has been ordered to pay back £54,812 under a Proceeds of Crime Hearing – or face another 18 months behind bars. Dunn, of Bredbury, near Stockport, was first investigated 10 years ago.

As well as his barking dogs officers also found 40 reptile tanks. Dunn grabbed a snake and threatened an officer shouting: “You have got the dogs, have my ******* snakes!”

In 2008, after officers unearthed stashes of drugs and cash he claimed he made £300,000 trading in pets.

At Manchester Crown Court this week, after hearing no tax or National Insurance was paid, Judge Mark Savill said: “The way the money was found highly suggests drug money.”

A neighbour said: “He had that many animals it resembled a zoo.”