A father used his critically ill one week old baby as a cover to smuggle £40,000 worth of cannabis into Kent.

Heartless Vladimir Matejik claimed he was told that his baby boy, who he had left in a Manchester hospital, had deteriorated, while he was in Spain

But a jury Canterbury Crown Court heard the 32-year-old claim he couldn’t fly back to the UK because he was bringing a Serano ham with him.

Matejik and friend Ctibor Krabac, 41, were stopped by by Border Force officials at Coquelles and when the vehicle was searched officers discover nearly five kilos of herbal cannabis.

The packages, which were stashed in the roof, wheel arches and dashboard of the VW, had street value of nearly £40,000.

Slovakian Krabac told the jury he was planning to return to his home country but agreed to make the journey because of the ham.

He was found not guilty of drug smuggling.

But Matejik, who went on the run as the trial was due to begin, was convicted in his absence and jailed for 18 months.

The baby is believed to have recovered from the illness.