An Ashford lorry driver caught smuggling £1million of cocaine told UK border staff: "I'm going to lose my kids. It's my own stupid fault."

And David Perry's prediction has now come true – after it was revealed two of his young children have now disowned him.

The 33 year old, of Kilndown Close, has been jailed for six years after he admitted stashing five kilos of the class A drug in a fridge in his cab.

His lorry was stopped returning from a trip to Holland in January and searched by Border Force staff.

Prosecutor John O'Higgins told Canterbury Crown Court it was just before 7pm on January 18 that the HGV was searched at the UK import channel at Coquelles.

"They discovered, inside the fridge, five shrink-wrapped packages containing cocaine with a purity of between 73 and 83%.

"It would have a street value, because of its high purity, in excess of £1m."

Perry was later arrested and an officer took away his mobile phone, which included the text: "Tell everyone I am about to be nicked."

The driver initially claimed he had been approached by someone knocking on his cab window at a truck stop in Europe and asked to bring in the packages.

But later he claimed he had been contacted by another driver and asked if he wanted to get more money by bringing "stuff" into the UK.

He was then contacted by one of the drug smuggling gang and asked to act as a courier – but when he was initially reluctant was told "these people aren't the sort you mess with", he claimed.

"you have now thrown that away, as you have thrown away your contact with your children and your health..." – recorder mark ockleton

Kieran Brand, defending, said Perry, who is separated from his partner, believed he was bringing in tobacco but realised later it was drugs.

He said: "It was only out of fear that he chose to take part, although he accepts that there were no direct threats made to him. But it was made plain that these people had some idea where he lived and he feared for the safety of his children."

Mr Brand revealed since Perry's arrest, two of his children aged 13 and 12 "have made it plain that at this stage they don't want anything more to do with him".

He was also now suffering from alopecia and had started losing his hair after being locked up – and fears losing his new home as well.

The judge, Recorder Mark Ockleton told Perry: "Your good character is of no relevance in a case like this. Those who seek drugs couriers, seek those of good character.

"You have now thrown that away, as you have thrown away your contact with your children and your health.

"You were smuggling cocaine – a £1m on the streets – with all the damage that would do to people who take it.

"You were clearly dealing with others and there is evidence you were in contact with at least one other person, so you knew there was some scheme involved."