A man driven by debt worries to smuggle cocaine worth more than £600,000 has been jailed for six years.

Mark Adams, of Henry Street, Chatham, appeared for sentence at Canterbury Crown Court having admitted smuggling the class A drug through Dover in June.

Michael Edmunds, prosecuting, said 50-year-old Adams and his wife were stopped at Dover docks as they returned from the Continent and he said they had been to Belgium to buy cigarettes.

He had nothing else to declare but officers decided to do a random search of his Chrysler Voyager and a drugs search dog indicated the presence of drugs.

Two packages were found in rear panels and they at first tested positive for amphetamine but were later confirmed to be cocaine with a street value of £612,000.

When arrested, Adams said his wife knew nothing of the drugs.

He said in a statement he believed the packets contained cannabis.

He collected them in Belgium and did not know the man he met.

He had money problems and was worried about his family’s safety, said Mr Edmunds.

Alistair Richardson, for Adams, said his role was that of courier and he was to be paid £400 a packet.

"He is extremely remorseful and accepts custody is inevitable.

"It was done to alleviate financial difficulties because he feared they would lose their home, so he turned to this opportunity to earn some money," said Mr Richardson.