A MILLIONAIRE York property developer and convicted cannabis dealer faces four years in jail after he defied a court order to hand over most of his wealth.

The sentence will be longer than the two and a half years Joseph Kelly, of Copmanthorpe Lane, Bishopthorpe, served for growing a £36,000 crop of high-strength skunk cannabis in a converted shipping container next to his former home in Ottringham, East Yorkshire.

Last August, Judge Simon Jack heard that Kelly had assets of £964,528, and that he had made £784,471 through drug-related activity over six years. Kelly was ordered to hand over all the drugs money by February 10 this year.

In February, Kelly successfully asked for more time to pay, but by yesterday he had only paid £13,000. The judge declared time was up and ordered him to pay up immediately or go to jail for four years.

Lorraine Baines, a senior financial investigator with Humberside Police said the case will now be listed before Sheffield magistrates who will ask Kelly to explain in detail why he has failed to obey the court order.

“Mr Kelly has to pay this money,” she said. “If he does not the magistrates court has the option of prison and we will set about asking the court to put charging orders on his property – forcing their sale.”

Hull Crown Court has heard Kelly has to sell a string of rented homes, land, cars and his marital home to meet the order.

Since February 10, he has been charged interest on the amount he must pay, and the accumulated interest is nearly £13,000, Hull Crown Court heard.

He was released partway through his sentence for the cannabis farm and was allowed to walk free from court after yesterday’s hearing.

Kelly also had convictions in 1999 for being concerned in the supply of cannabis and in 1983 for growing cannabis.