A businessman, who was jailed for offering to supply fake Ecstasy tablets, has had £400,000 of his assets frozen by criminal investigators.

Carl Metcalfe, 61, the former chairman of Keighley Cougars rugby club, is serving an eight-year prison sentence for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

The Assets Recovery Agency, which was created in 2002 to seek the civil recovery of the proceeds of unlawful activity, has been granted an Interim Receiving Order by the High Court, restraining Mr Metcalfe from disposing of his assets.

The Agency claims the assets were acquired as a result of unlawful conduct related to drug trafficking.

They include two residential properties, in Keighley and Skipton, a Lexus LS400 car with the personalised registration M1DAS, a small plot of land at Keighley, and jewellery, silverware and paintings.

Metcalfe, of Goulbourne Street, Keighley, was found guilty in December 2002 of conspiracy to offer to supply drugs.

He and his wife Valerie, 57, ran a company, Viceroy Marketing Ltd, purporting to make health and slimming products. But it was a cover for a fake Ecstasy factory which made a profit of £3.5m in the mid-nineties.

The fake pills were sold to clubbers and allowed the pair to enjoy an opulent lifestyle.

After his conviction the trial judge made a Confiscation Order against Metcalfe for a total of £556,968.57, which was deemed to be the proceeds of crime.

But last December the Court of Criminal Appeal quashed the Confiscation Order, though it dismissed Metcalfe's appeals against conviction and sentence.

The case was then referred to the Assets Recovery Agency by West Yorkshire Police.

The Interim Receiver, an independent officer of the court, will now submit a report to the High Court. If the report shows the assets were the proceeds of crime the Agency will apply for a Civil Recovery Order to dispose of them.

Metcalfe will be able put forward his own evidence to explain how the assets were come by.

An Agency spokesman said it was hoped the report would be submitted within six months.

She said the interim order meant Metcalfe will not be able to sell any of his properties, the Lexus car will have to be delivered to the Interim Receiver, which will also investigate whether Viceroy Marketing is a bona fide company, and hold the jewellery, paintings and silverware in safe storage.

The spokesman said the purchase price of the Lexus was £46,000, with the number plate bought for £24,000.

Metcalfe's solicitor, Janice Sain, said she could not comment because she had received no information about the Interim Receiving Order.

She said: "I am aware the Assets Recovery Agency was at the Court of Appeal in December but we have had no contact from them about this."