A former squaddie who admitted smuggling cocaine worth £680,000 into Dover has been jailed for nine years at Canterbury Crown Court.

Paul Stephens, 30, of Appleby Close, Darlington, was arrested on April 18 and 14.1kg of pure cocaine found hidden in the fuel tank of a Jaguar Stephens had been driving.

He’d been recruited to import the drugs after meeting up with an old Army friend and drove to Calais to bring back wine. While there, the car was taken away for half an hour and when brought back, Stephens returned to Dover.

Stephens had been been discharged from the Army in January 2008 after 12 years following a fight with another soldier who was later medically discharged because of his injuries.

He had convictions for excess alcohol, public order and wounding and was said by his lawyer, Kerry Waitt, to have now lost everything.

His marriage was in jeopardy and his family had disowned him. Mr Waitt asked for credit for Stephens’ plea and the court to pass the shortest sentence possible.