An ice-cream van driver has been allowed to re-start his career despite police concerns over his boss.

Gerard Melvin, who previously delivered sweet treats in Drumchapel, was granted a mobile street traders licence to re-commence work for Harry Bennett.

Earlier this year Mr Bennett had seven houses, three watches and £45,000 of cash seized by the Civil Recovery Unit (CRU) under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

His former company ‘Drumchapel Ices’ had previously employed Mr Melvin until the business was dissolved in January this year.

Police Scotland made a representation to Glasgow’s licensing committee to warn that Mr Bennett had been subject of a confiscation order.

But Mr Melvin said: “The police quite rightly have concerns but they’ve not made any objections against me. They are not suggesting that I’m not fit and proper. I’ve had a street traders licence for 20 years."

Mr Melvin confirmed he had worked for Mr Bennett for “three years on and off”.

And despite the police concerns, licensing chiefs granted his street traders licence for three years by a majority of 7-2.

It was heard that Mr Bennett and his partner Christine Clements bought seven houses in Drumchapel using ‘unlawful conduct’.

But in April this year the homes, along with £45,000 cash and three designer watches were confiscated by the Civil Recovery Unit (CRU) under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The value of each property was between £37,000 and £135,000 and a six-figure sum was expected to be raised for the CashBack for Communities programme.

The watches were sold at an auction in Edinburgh for around £5,200.

At the time of the seizures, Denise McKay, the head of the CRU said: “Unlawful conduct allowed Harold Bennett and Christine Clements to invest in multiple properties with money they were not entitled to.

“Civil recovery is a vital tool for disrupting crime in Scotland and this order sends out a strong message that we will do all in our power to recover properties and assets bought with criminal gains.

“The free proceeds from the sale of the houses and other assets will be reinvested into our communities through the CashBack programme.”