A drug dealer was caught as he dumped his stash of cocaine in woods - claiming he was desperate for the loo.

Police were watching as Paul Cypher, of Main Road, Cooling, casually tried to get rid of around £3,000-worth of cocaine.

When he emerged, the 28-year-old said he'd just been to the toilet.

Cypher was jailed last week for four years after being found guilty of possession with intent to supply.

Maidstone Crown Court heard on March 27 last year, PC Adam Owens and PC Simon Lee became suspicious when they saw Cypher walking into the woods near Green Street Green.

He had parked a black BMW. The officers checked it and found out it was registered to him.

When approached, Cypher claimed he had been going to the woods as he was desperate for the toilet.

But after searching both Cypher and the car, the officers let him go and left to attend another call.

They still felt uneasy about him though and returned to the woods, suspecting Cypher had thrown something away.

As they arrived back, the BMW was in the car park and once again, Cypher came out of the woods but this time threw something into the bushes as he saw them and ran to his car.

Cypher was arrested and officers found the stash, ready to be dealt.

PC Claire Last, who led the investigation, said: "Uniformed police officers followed their gut instinct to catch this offender and we are pleased that the courts have reflected the seriousness of this offence.

"North Kent’s Drugs Intervention Team will pursue those who deal in drugs and ensure they appear before the courts."