CRIMINAL Mark Francois lived a life in the fast lane.

The spotlight fell on him because of his flash cars and luxury home.

But it was a spotlight that also led detectives to investigate his background.

And when he turned up in a top of the range Audi to deal crack cocaine to an undercover cop in the big Operation Greystoke in Huddersfield, they knew their suspicions were right.

Last night, as Francois started a six-year jail term, a police spokesman said: Mark Francois used money he gained solely through his criminal activities to buy a luxury home in Mirfield, as well as several luxury cars.

He attempted to layer his illegitimate activities via expensive vehicle and property purchases, but he could not overcome the spotlight that such actions brought upon him, especially within a society that is experiencing such financial hardship and austerity.

By receiving his sentence of six years in prison, the police and our partners have shown how we will not tolerate the behaviour and actions of those who think they can profit from crime and get away with it.

Francois has paid the consequences for thinking drug dealing and his associated lifestyle were separate entities, because the reality is that the police will join the dots and look very closely at what is legitimate and illegitimate.