An alleged drug dealer accused of having up to £12,000 of cocaine stored in his bedroom safe was living the “high life” with an expensive car and designer trainers, a court heard on Tuesday.
Police seized the Audi A4 and shoes worth more than £2,000 during searches at 22-year-old Dean Prenter’s home in north Belfast last week.
Suspected cocaine, associated equipment and £800 in cash were also recovered.
Prenter, of Duneden Park, appeared at the city’s Magistrates Court to face charges of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply and having criminal property.
An investigating detective said officers who carried out the raid on February 22 found a set of scales and hundreds of deal-type bags.
A safe located in the accused’s bedroom contained suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of between £8,000 and £12,000.
Police also took Prenter’s white Audi A4 TDI Sport vehicle and four pairs of high-value trainers.
The shoes, by designers Alexander McQueen and Burberry, were said to cost at least £500 each.
During the initial searches Prenter allegedly tried to conceal his mobile phone and left the property before any drugs were discovered.
He handed himself in at a PSNI station arrangement on Monday.
Prenter refused access to his phone and provided no explanation for the drugs, cash or the Audi, it was claimed.
“The car has a conservative estimate of between £12,000 and £15,000,” the detective said.
“My understanding is the defendant does not work and cannot give an account for his income.”
Defence counsel Sean Mullan argued that his client could be safely released from custody.
He stressed that PSNI officers who carried out the searches informed Prenter that he was free to go.
“It’s not a case that he has been on the run,” Mr Mullan added.
District Judge Steven Keown observed: “The allegation made is that this is somebody living the high life, dealing cocaine and enjoying the fruits of that labour.”
Granting bail to the accused, Mr Keown ordered him to live under curfew at an approved address outside Belfast.
Prenter is due to appear in court again on March 26.