A LOTTO winner who turned drug dealer to pay off his debts has been ordered to hand over more than £100,000 of his illegal earnings.

Richard Storey, who scooped £1.25million as part of a jackpot-winning syndicate in 1999, was jailed earlier this year after police found an industrial-scale cannabis farm behind his home.

Storey, 55, of Orchard Avenue, Ramsden Bellhouse, was yesterday ordered to pay back cash he earned from illegal dealing.

Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, police made a successful application to recoup £101,280 – all cash earned through Storey’s criminal enterprises.

Judge John Lodge, sitting at Basildon Crown Court, gave Storey 12 months to pay.

The news was welcomed by PC Paul Gutteridge, neighbourhood specialist officer for Wickford North, who led the raid on Storey’s home.

He said: “This is an excellent result.

“The cannabis factory we found in Mr Storey’s home was a professional set-up, with hundreds of plants, all intended to be sold on our streets.

“Thankfully, we not only stopped that happening, but have now taken back the money Mr Storey earned through growing and selling drugs.

“I hope this result shows other people if they deal in drugs we will not only arrest them, but we will take them through the courts to seize back money they earn through their criminal activities.”

Police swooped on Mr Storey’s home in September 2008 as a result of a tip-off.

They found 377 plants growing in a stable which had been converted into a sophisticated cannabis factory.

It had aluminium-lined walls and hydroponic lamps to help the cannabis grow plus plants in various stages of maturity.

Police also found £16,700 in cash.

Father-of-three Storey was arrested and confessed he had been growing cannabis for two or three years, after a business venture failed, plunging him heavily into debt.

Storey, who admitted cultivating cannabis and illegally abstracting electricity, was jailed for 16 months in February.