A criminal with several convictions involving drugs has been jailed for six years and nine months after he was caught with a huge haul of cannabis.

Clive Brown was arrested in Gravesend while delivering 460 kilos of the drug with a street value of up to £2.3million.

It was the second time the 59-year-old, of Wyatt Road, Crayford, had received a long sentence for drug dealing.

He was jailed for six years at Taunton Crown Court in 2009 and was on licence when he committed the latest offence. In 1991, he was sentenced to three years for smuggling drugs.

Maidstone Crown Court heard CCTV obtained from Nell's Cafe, in Watling Street, Gravesend, showed a meeting there between Brown and 28-year-old Gary Newman.

The pair were seen meeting in a car park opposite the cafe on May 23. Mr Newman went into the cafe and Brown drove away with the transit van.

Brown returned later, went into the cafe and left with Mr Newman. Brown went back to his Nissan car and drove off. Mr Newman drove off in the van.

Shortly afterwards, police officers stopped Mr Newman and a search of the van revealed a large wooden crate containing 1,991 9oz bars of cannabis known as nine bars.

Brown, formerly of Alfred Road, Gravesend, admitted conspiracy to supply drugs. Mr Newman, of Coal Post Close, Orpington, denied the charge and was acquitted by a jury earlier this month.

Sentencing Brown today, Judge Philip St John-Stevens said: "It is clear you had a role beyond just collecting drugs. You had a significant role.

"You were involved in communications for the organisation of transport. You clearly had knowledge of these types of operations."

The judge said he was "uplifting" the sentence because of Brown's previous convictions.

"When released on licence you committed these offences, again because, I am told, you were short of money," added Judge St John-Stevens. "You were very much aware of what you were getting into."

DC Mark Froome said: "We caught Brown in the act of dealing a large amount of cannabis clearly intended for the streets of Kent.

"The overwhelming evidence we secured gave him no choice but to admit his guilt at the first possible opportunity in court.

"The drugs have been seized and destroyed – sending a clear message that we do not tolerate illegal drugs in Kent and crime doesn't pay."