BRADFORD’S top judge is demanding to know why a forensic accounts report is being ordered in a Proceeds of Crime case involving a jailed drug dealer.

Nathanial Fulton, 32, of Halifax Road, Bingley, was imprisoned for four and a half years at Bradford Crown Court in May for his role in a major drugs plot that saw the police seize a kilo of high purity cocaine worth up to £81,000.

He pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply cocaine between September 27 and 29, 2017, and to possessing cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis and skunk cannabis with intent to supply in September, 2019.

On Friday, the case was listed at the crown court for a Proceeds of Crime Act directions hearing before the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Richard Mansell KC.

Fulton did not appear in court and his lawyers were not present.

Tom Jackson, for the Crown, said information was being sought on large deposits of cash, including sums said to be £121,000 and £161,000. Fulton’s legal team had commissioned a forensic accounts report to look into the matter.

Mr Jackson said he believed Fulton’s available assets totalled £11,000.

Judge Mansell said Fulton’s barrister must submit a written note to the court in 14 days explaining why such a report was needed.

He listed the case for a further mention on November 4 saying he wanted a final resolu-tion of the case soon.

During the sentencing hearing, the court heard that the conspiracy centred on a drugs transaction watched by a police surveillance team in Mortimer Street in Four Lane Ends, Bradford, on September 28, 2017.

A Ford Transit Connect van was stopped by the police outside McDonald’s in Butt Lane, Farnley, and a kilo block of cocaine seized.

Fulton, who was working as a doorman, was described as the ‘minder’ for the cocaine transaction, ensuring a smooth handover.

Judge Mansell said he was acting under direction and expected some reward but that he played a lesser role in the operation.

When Fulton was arrested in 2019, the police seized £300 cash, a receipt for a Rolex watch worth £12,000, and the watch itself, together with digital scales, a plastic box containing an ounce of cannabis and two bin liners containing eight ounces of cannabis with a street value of over £2,000.

In an Audi parked outside his house, they found a bag containing 169g of cocaine with a street value of £12,680 and ten ounces of cannabis bush worth £2,870.

A Ford Raptor contained one hundred MDMA tablets worth £1,000, a tinfoil wrap con-taining crystalline MDMA worth £180, and over £1,100 in cash.