Three men have been jailed for more than 15 years today after admitting drugs charges.

Aaron Elcombe, Steven Savage and Lee Blanford pleaded guilty to a total of 15 charges at Maidstone Crown Court.

The trio were arrested after police raided an address in Acorn Grove, Ditton, to find 9kgs of cocaine, more than 5kgs of cannabis, caffeine and lactose.

Ian Foinette, prosecuting, said that on December 10 last year police officers were keeping observation when they saw Elcombe drive up to Blandford’s house in Acorn Grove. He took a heavy box and a painting from his boot.

"You have all shown remorse and Elcombe and Blandford are model prisoners." — Judge Charles Macdonald QC

Mr Foinette said the painting, which was worth about £30, if that, was a cover. Elcombe went into the garage with both items and left carrying the empty box.

Antique dealer Elcombe was stopped by police and the box, which contained traces of cocaine, was seized.

The garage was searched and large quantities of cannabis, cocaine, caffeine, lactose and skunk were found.

Blandford’s house was searched and cannabis and other drugs were found.

An invoice led the police to Savage as he’d used his credit or debit card to buy 100 kilos of caffeine, which is used for cutting the drugs.

Blandford told police a friend had asked him if Elcombe could use his garage to store his antiques. He denied knowing anything about the drugs stored there.

Police found the CS spray when Savage’s home was searched.

Peter Corrigan, defending Elcombe, said his client had a bad cocaine habit and he was allowed some if he acted as a delivery boy.

“His cocaine habit has got him and his family in a mess,” Mr Corrigan told the court.

Mathew Dance, defending Blandford, said he had allowed his garage and home to be used for the storage of drugs.

“He received £100 a month for this,” Mr Dance said. “He got involved to alleviate some of the money difficulties he found himself in. This is totally out of character for him and while he’s been in prison he’s completed some courses.”

Thomas Stern, defending Savage, said he bought the CS spray 15 years’ ago and it had been collecting dust ever since.

“His involvement is two stages removed from supplying,” Mr Stern said. “He’s a family man witrh three young children.”.

Blanford, 48, of Acorn Drive, admitted seven count of possession and supply and was sentenced to six years and seven months in prison.

Elcombe, 38, of Ryarsh Road, Birling, pleaded guilty to five counts of the same offence and received five years and seven months.

Thirty-six-year-old Savage, of Cambridge Way, Maidstone, admitted assisting an offender, possessing cannabis and possessing CS Spray and was handed a three-and-a-half-year term.

Det Con Donna Hopper, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "The drugs we seized would have made the defendants a sizable amount of profit, but we were able to quickly intercept the delivery of the drugs and ensure that they didn’t enter circulation in Kent.

"It was obvious from the various items that we seized from Blanford’s house that he and Elcombe were involved in the supply of drugs and I’m pleased that we have been able to put a stop to their offending."

Judge Charles Macdonald QC said he had read testimonials about the men, which he had found to be substantial and, in some respects, touching.

He said: “You have all shown remorse and Elcombe and Blandford are model prisoners."

He said Elcombe transported the drugs to the garage, Blandford allowed his house and garage to be used by people running a cutting factory for the preparation of cannabis and Savage had bought caffeine.

“It is not disputed that you knew it would be used by somebody for cutting drugs for sale on the street,” Judge Macdonald said.

He ordered that the drugs and associated paraphernalia be destroyed.