A man has been jailed for dealing cocaine after a Kent Police drugs dog led officers to his stash.

Daniel Meehan, 31, (pictured) was sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment after he was found guilty of possession with intent to supply. His girlfriend Sophie Cooke, 21, was given a two-year suspended sentence for the same offence.

Kent Police officers executed a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 at Meehan's address in Clipper Crescent on May 4, 2012.

A drug dog followed his nose to an area of decking in the back garden. When his handler removed part of the decking, which was held down with Velcro, he discovered a clear plastic bag containing a plastic tube stuffed with small bags containing cocaine and empty bags. An envelope marked FRANK containing more cocaine was found in the kitchen.

Forensic tests showed it was likely the cocaine under the decking and the cocaine found in the kitchen were from the same batch.

Cooke, of St Paul’s Close, Swanscombe, claimed the drugs in the kitchen were hers for personal use. However, both she and Meehan denied any knowledge of how the tube of cocaine had found its way into the decking, claiming they used the plastic bags only to dispose of their dogs' waste.

However, forensic evidence secured at the scene led to their conviction.

DC Eleanor Hughes of Kent Police, said: "This is not the first time Meehan has been convicted for dealing drugs. He and Cooke tried to spin a web of lies to explain away their stash of cocaine, but I am pleased to say we brought them to justice.

"Illegal drugs, particularly class A drugs, bring misery and violence to people's lives. We won't tolerate people dealing them on our streets. As a force, we take drug dealing extremely seriously and the severity of these sentences should serve as a warning to others that drug dealing does not pay."