Two workers at a high street bakery were secretly selling cannabis alongside its fresh cakes and sausage rolls, a court has heard.

The Wake and Bakery in Cheriton, Folkestone, left customers puzzled after announcing its imminent closure in March.

But the venue had taken centre stage in a police sting after it emerged the Class B drug was being served up by two employees alongside its baked goods.

Two men were sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court last Tuesday for their part in the operation, which ran from October last year until March.

Alfie Ball, 24, of Cheriton Road, Folkestone, was jailed for two years and three months.

Richard Francis, 33, of Sir John Moore Avenue, Hythe, was handed a nine-month sentence suspended for two years.

Laying down the prosecution’s case, Daniel Stevenson explained: “These two defendants were involved in the supply of cannabis from a business premises, The Wake and Bakery on Cheriton High Street in Folkestone.

“Both defendants worked either at or for the bakery.

“Alfie Ball was involved in the operation at a level above Francis, and Ball was responsible for receiving requests for cannabis, and for directing Francis to make supplies.

“Francis would then deliver individual deals to customers to avoid being stopped with a large quantity in his vehicle.”

The court was told it was impossible to gauge how much cannabis was sold during the period, and another individual still remains at large.

Francis was stopped and searched a number of times in the months leading up to his arrest, Mr Stevenson explained.

When police executed a warrant at his home in November they found a contact number saved as ‘Food delivery’ stored on his phone.

Messages from the line gave numerous locations for cannabis drops around Folkestone, while others related to baking.

In February, officers saw Francis dealing from his car window in Roman Way, with a boot filled with decorating equipment and bakery goods.

Francis tried concealing his phone, but when it rang repeatedly officers found the device, which contained a number of incriminating messages.

They included customer requests for different weights and strains, the prosecution said.

The phone would then lead officers to the Wake and Bakery, where Ball was arrested on the morning of March 15.

Mr Stevenson continued: “There were multiple messages on the lock screen of Ball’s phone, which included requests to purchase cannabis, for example ‘yoyo you good can you do me a eighth? Can you tick an eighth till tomorrow, looking for half an ounce’ et cetera.”

Ball gave a no-comment police interview, while Francis said he did not know cannabis was being sold and he was only a casual worker at the bakery.

Following their arrests, The Wake and Bakery released a Facebook message announcing its immediate closure, saying the location is “no longer viable”.

"It’s with a heavy heart we have to announce we will be closing our doors for the last time,” it read.

"We’ve had a great year but we’ve made the decision the shop, in its current location, is no longer viable.

"Thank you everyone who has supported us.

"We will hopefully be back soon in a bigger, better location.”

Numerous customers sent messages of condolence and support, with many heaping praise on the bakery’s produce.

Meanwhile, Ball and Francis pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of dealing cannabis at the same court in April.

The judge, Recorder Michael Turner, told the pair they both played “a significant role” and “ignored warnings” from the police.

“This was an operation that was run out of a bakery in Folkestone and I am satisfied on the evidence that you both played a significant role in the dealing of cannabis to street users,” he said.

“I am equally satisfied that you played roles of differing levels.

“Although, Mr Ball, you were the younger of the two, you were playing a management role.

“You continued with this operation notwithstanding you were stopped on multiple occasions, and these were clearly intended to put you off, but you ignored all those warnings.”

Ball, who has two previous convictions for cannabis dealing, is a father-of-three and entered early guilty pleas, James Burke, mitigating said.

Francis, who has 12 convictions for 17 offences, “foolishly” started drug dealing after becoming overwhelmed by “acute financial pressure”, Phil Rowley said in mitigation.