A businessman who ran eight internet drug companies from his Broadstairs home dealing in importing "legal highs" from China was today jailed for three years.

Jeremy Detheridge, 26, brought in the chemicals disguised as lawn feed-based products in a "cat and mouse" game with the authorities.

But Canterbury Crown Court heard that in April 2010 new regulations were introduced that outlawed the drugs.

And, in what is believed to be one of the first prosecutions of its kind in the UK, Detheridge, now of Devonshire Gardens, Ramsgate, pleaded guilty to importing illegal class B and C drugs with intent to supply.

Judge Adele Williams told him: "You thought you were ordering non-controlled drugs but they turned out to be controlled.

"But you are not a chemist. You weren't to know what was in the drugs you imported from China. That's the mischief."

Donal Lawler, defending, said the IT consultant admitted he had been playing "cat and mouse" with drug enforcement officers to bring in drugs that were still legal.

Paul Tapsell, prosecuting, told how on April 19, 2010 two packages were intercepted at Stansted airport from a "Jack Ma, China" and addressed to "David Saunders, Kingsgate Marketing".

Forensic experts tested the powder and discovered they contained a substance used to treat neurodegenerative disorders along with an illegal class C substance.

Three days later another package arrived at Heathrow airport from "Shanghai Yiyi Maoyi Co, China" and addressed to David Saunders - this time with Titanium Dioxide inside.

In May, another package was tested and it contained a class B drug.

Customs officers began investigating Detheridge and discovered a company called "Naturally Perfected" based at Broadstairs - with a contact address at a Ramsgate pub.

"but you are not a chemist. you weren't to know what was in the drugs you imported from china…” – judge adele williams

Police then raided the house in Botany Road, Broadstairs - seizing books on legal highs, including instructions for manufacturing various drugs, scales, measuring spoons and a computer.

And as officers were still carrying out their raid - another package arrived for Detheridge.

That led officers to websites for Perfectpowder.co.uk and happyKat.co.uk - but both carried a notice that orders weren't being taken as "they were away at Glastonbury".

The court heard that the value of the drugs was £40,000 - and Detheridge claimed that "he didn't know how the products he sold were used, but assumed his customers already knew", the prosecutor said.

Mr Lawler told the court: "He thought he was winning the cat and mouse game and staying on the right side of the law.

"He is not a cynical or callous businessman - whatever the dubious moral arguments are over the supply of legal highs - selling them regardless of the consequences. He took them himself at the time. Although he has now stopped.

"He realises that he flew too close to the sun and got burned. He is a man who accepts he strayed but there was no malicious intent."

A second man, David Truelove, 40, of Rumsfields Road, Broadstairs, admitted two charges of possessing cannabis and was fined £300 with £515 costs and surcharge.