Former world boxing champion John Armour has been jailed for 16 months for his involvement in a drug conspiracy centred on his home.

The 48-year-old, of Palmerston Road, Chatham, admitted his guilt shortly before he was due to stand trial on Monday with father-to-be Robert Cartmer.

Armour, who won the bantamweight world title three times between 2000 and 2002, and Cartmer, 33, of Priory Road, Gillingham, had both denied conspiracy to supply cannabis on September 7 last year.

Grant Church, 30, of Kenilworth Gardens, Hornchurch, Essex, admitted the charge on the accepted basis he was “a trusted courier”.

Cartmer was also jailed for 16 months and Church was sentenced to 11 months.

Armour, who having retired, set up his own fight club - Armour Plated Boxing - at his home, also denied possessing amphetamine sulphate on the same date and that charge was not proceeded with.

The three were arrested following the seizure of large quantities of cannabis and cash.

Maidstone Crown Court heard police pounced at Armour’s home, which has a boxing gym at the back, on September 7 2015.

Prosecutor Walter Hornsby said Church arrived in a van to supply herbal cannabis to Cartmer for onward distribution and street supply in Medway.

Church handed over a laundry bag to Cartmer. He gave Church a package which was found to contain just under £16,000 when he was stopped soon afterwards as he headed back to Essex.

Police lost sight of the laundry bag containing the drug and it was not recovered.

When Armour’s home was searched a kilo of skunk cannabis worth up to £7,000 was stashed in the loft.

There was also just under £10,000 cash in the council house.

Mr Hornsby said it was by inference drugs money. There were also herbal grinders.

Police raided Cartmer’s home and seized four small packages of herbal cannabis. Inside were notes indicating different types of cannabis.

Mr Hornsby said Armour’s home was being used for drug dealing. He could not tell the judge who the “Mr Big” was in the set-up.

Judge Jeremy Carey told disgraced Armour: “You were a very distinguished professional boxer with a quite extraordinary distinguished career and fight record.

“You carried on helping those who would otherwise be on the streets, teaching in your gym.

"You have a good deal of appearance work for charity without much or no reward.

“I take the view you are an affable, well intentioned man proud of your record and position in the boxing world.

“But the fact is you are a criminal. You have committed this offence and I cannot overlook that.”

Neil Guest, defending, said the father-of-four, who has previous convictions for violence some time ago, had not made a fortune from boxing.

He still lived in a council house, to which he had attached a gym and ran it for local youths and the benefit of the community.

“He has been boxing since the age of 10,” said Mr Guest.

“He boxed for his country 15 times. He was very successful.”

Judge Carey said: “He is an almost world renowned boxer, isn’t he? He has a distinguished boxing career. He has fallen a long way.”

As an amateur, the Chatham-born boxer won the 1990 Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) flyweight title.

As a professional he lifted the European Boxing Union (EBU) bantamweight title, World Boxing Union (WBU) bantamweight title and Commonwealth bantamweight title.

He was also a challenger for the World Boxing Union (WBU) super bantamweight title against Carlos Navarro.

Mr Guest said Armour was “lost” when he retired form the ring at the age of 36, but he carried on within the sport and also worked as an HGV driver and labourer.

“Boxing has never given him a life of luxury,” he said.

“He did a great deal of charity events, giving his time freely.

“This conviction will have a great impact on his life. The British Boxing Board of Control will take a harsh view of this. It is most likely he will lose his licence and be shunned by the world of boxing, which is a great loss to him.

“Thirty-eight years down the drain because of stupidity on his part. His long-term partner can’t work because they have a young child.

“He is shamed. He is very embarrassed and he is very remorseful for what went on.”

Mr Guest submitted that a suspended sentence could be imposed.

Judge Carey said the £16,000 seized was consistent with a kilo of herbal cannabis, but it was more likely to be two kilos.

He was “entirely satisfied” the cash found in Armour’s home was the proceeds of drug-dealing.

The judge said he sentenced all three on the accepted basis that their offending was all on one day.

Armour asserted he allowed others to store drugs in his home and took no part in supplying them. He was due to be paid £400.

“This was a sophisticated, professional operation,” said Judge Carey.

“You were not in it to make a bit of money for your own drug use.

“This is a sad case because each of you has quite a lot to be said for yourself. It is a sad case because I have to send each of you to prison straight away.

“The message goes out that whatever people say about cannabis, it is potentially highly addictive.

"For those with mental health issues it can be highly destructive.

“And anyway it is against the law and this court is here to enforce the law.

"It would be absolutely unacceptable if lads came to Mr Armour’s gym and discovered the use of cannabis.”