A COCAINE dealer who claims to have made no money from his illegal enterprise failed to turn up for a proceeds of crime hearing because he is 'floored' by a medical complaint.

Andrew Cree, 31, contacted his lawyer the day before the case was due to call at Greenock Sheriff Court.

He told him that he was too ill to attend but did not provide written confirmation.

Solicitor Edward Sweeney told the court: "He says he has certain health difficulties that have floored him.

"Mr Cree told me that he has a doctor's letter but that is not with me, however, there does appear to be some basis for the condition he complains about."

Cree, of Balmore Road, was caught with £3,000 worth of cocaine and £1,190 in cash after police battered their way into his drug den home in a dawn raid.

He sparked the forced entry swoop by not responding to a knock on his door and was grabbed by police as hot water poured from a tap into a sink containing the Class A drug.

The court heard a year ago how officers believed that the pusher was attempting to exit the house through an open window when they got to him.

At an earlier hearing Mr Sweeney stated Mr Cree 'denies any benefit from the offence'.

He added: "There are in excess of 800 sheets of bank statements and the like.

"He was working at the time of the libel and earning tens of thousands of pounds."

Following a guilty plea in July last year, prosecutor Pamela Brady told the court there was white powder 'everywhere within the living room'.

Police were able to recover around 80 grams of cocaine, a 'significant amount' of white-coloured caffeine powder and the cash.

Cree is now due back in court on August 28.