A van driver caught with around £817,000 worth of cocaine and a gas canister has been jailed for six years.

James Reginald Bettridge, of Walsall in the West Midlands, claimed he had been delivering furniture to Hamburg in Germany when he was stopped at Dover's Eastern Docks.

But when Border Force officials searched the British-registered VW on August 19 last year, they found six kilos of the class A drug.

They questioned him before searching the vehicle, finding under one of the passenger seats, five tape wrapped packages in a plastic bag and a lunchbox containing white powder.

There was also a box of car equipment and inside officers discovered a CS gas canister.

Bettridge was arrested on suspicion of the importation of Class A drugs and an offensive weapon.

The subsequent criminal investigation was carried out by the National Crime Agency.

He pleaded guilty at a hearing at Canterbury Crown Court on Monday February 23 and was sentenced to six years imprisonment the same day.

Border Force director, Paul Morgan, said: “Drug smuggling is a serious offence and those convicted will face prison sentences. Our message to those who would consider it is that it’s just not worth it.

'Our message to those who would consider it is that it’s just not worth it.' - Paul Morgan

“In this case our officers have prevented a large amount of drugs and a dangerous weapon from reaching the streets. Working with law enforcement colleagues like the NCA we are determined to do all we can to prevent drug trafficking and put those responsible behind bars.”

Anyone with information about activity they suspect may be linked to drug smuggling should call the hotline on 0800 59 5000.