A prolific drug dealer from Maidstone who spent his earnings on designer handbags and flat screen televisions has been jailed for almost five years.

Officers searched the flat of 35-year-old Ashley Nation on Tonbridge Road where they found a number of high value luxury goods and almost £3,000 cash.

Plastic packaging had also been flushed down a toilet and white powder was found around the toilet bowl.

An investigation found between August 2017 and May 2019 a total of £81,695 in cash deposits had been made to a bank account linked to Nation.

The only time the deposits stopped was when he had been serving a prison sentence.

On a separate occasion, Nation was again arrested and more high value goods worth more than £30,000 were seized.

An Audi car was also confiscated which contained around £1,000 cash.

Police searched a second car nearby and found cannabis and cocaine later linked to Nation.

Nation pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court and was convicted for money laundering and the supply of drugs.

He was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison.

Detective Constable James Arnold said: "Ashley Nation is a repeat offender, who was dealing drugs on a significant level even when he was released on licence following a previous custodial sentence.

"Rest assured that now he is back in prison our next step will be to use the Proceeds of Crime Act as a means to claw back any criminal gains from which he has benefitted."

To get the latest updates in ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone