A SUFFOLK fraudster is fighting a court order to repay nearly �2million amid claims the money belongs to her fugitive ex-boyfriend.

Ellen George, of Colville Road, Lowestoft, is contesting a confiscation order with HM Customs, despite her former partner Richard Neil Davison being on the run for seven years and twice skipping bail.

However, in a linked case, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is also bringing proceedings against Mr Davison, in his absence, in a bid to seize �7.5m from him.

The DPP is undertaking civil recovery proceedings against the former owner of Crompton Marine Ltd, of Brook Marina, Lowestoft, even though Mr Davison has not stood trial.

It is understood George is arguing the �1,950,409 in assets she was ordered to hand over as proceeds from her crimes by Ipswich Crown Court actually belong to Mr Davison.

Both hearings are scheduled to take place before the administrative court of the Queen’s Bench at the Royal Courts of Justice on March 10.

Davison, who is known as Neil Davison, has been on the run since customs officers raided premises in Lowestoft and Spain in March 2004.

Around 70 Spanish officers were involved in the swoops aimed as smashing a multi-million pound drug network which transported Class A drugs between north Africa and Spain.

The raids netted 16 other suspects in Malaga, Nerja and Estepona.

The drug runners used rigid-hulled inflatable boats, allegedly supplied by Mr Davison, to outrun the coastal patrols by law enforcement agencies.

Mr Davison, formerly of Colville Road, Lowestoft, was first arrested as his came out of his flat overlooking Estepona on the Costa Del Sol.

Mr Davison was originally detained in prison, but was eventually bailed before going on the run.

He was arrested for a second time in February 2008. However, he was released pending further enquiries and skipped bail a second time. He whereabouts are still unknown.

George was a director of Crompton Marine Ltd.

The mother-of-three from Colville Road, Lowestoft, admitted possessing criminal property and five offences of conspiring to defraud the Inland Revenue in 2008. She was subsequently given a two-year suspended prison sentence.

Last April Judge David Goodin made a confiscation order against her and ordered it to be paid within 18 months. He set a six-year prison term in default of payment.

An earlier hearing was told officers who raided George’s home in 2004 found more than �1.25m in cash, including �250,000 stuffed in a holdall under the stairs.