A man who was found in possession of drugs worth more than £100,000 has been jailed.

Steven Bayes was found with a large quantity of drugs and cash in his parked van when it was searched by police in Five Oak Green near Tonbridge.

Inside the 58-year-old's vehicle officers discovered two large bags of compressed herbal drugs with a street value of £16,000-£19,000.

They also seized more than £36,000 during the search in Five Oak Green Road in September.

Kent Police called for assistance from colleagues in Sutton to search Bayes’ home in Defiant Way, Wallington.

Officers - led by Sgt Paul Cole - forced entry to the address on Wednesday, September 16 and found a large block of cocaine under a bed.

The drugs had a street value of £60,000 - £80,000 and tests later showed they had a purity of 80%.

They also found equipment typically used in the growing of cannabis plants as well as small quantities of MDMA and further amounts of cocaine.

The total haul of the street value of the drugs and cash in Bayes’ van and at his home totalled over £100,000.

Forensic evidence linked many of the coverings and wrappings on the drugs directly with Bayes.

Significantly, the V5 registration document for the van being driven by Bayes at the time he was arrested was also uncovered in the search of his home.

Bayes accepted he played a ‘trusted and significant’ role in supplying drugs on a commercial scale.

The operation involved close co-operation between officers from Kent and the Met Police.

At Maidstone Crown Court on Friday Bay was jailed for seven years.

He had previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply 980g of cocaine, possession of 7g of MDMA, possession with intent to supply 2kg of herbal cannabis and possession of criminal property.

The judge ordered forfeiture and destruction of all the drugs, drugs paraphernalia and phone handsets used in the commission of the offences.