Police raided a couple’s home in Sevenoaks and seized drugs worth up to £36,000 and almost £12,000 in cash, a court heard.

A judge found that Matthew Barker and Sarah Maxey were engaged in “highly profitable” drug dealing.

He rejected a suggestion that 34-year-old Barker was a “middle man” who was paying off a debt to dealers higher up the scale.

Barker was jailed for five years and Maxey, 28, was sentenced to four years and four months when they appeared at Maidstone Court today.

When officers carried at the raid at their house in Greatness Lane on June 30 last year the couple were in their nightwear.

Prosecutor Mary Jacobson said a combination of high purity cocaine, cannabis and cash was found in various parts of the property.

Barker at first told officers they would have to find the drugs but then pointed to a cupboard.

Officers found over 305g of cocaine with a street value of between £25,000 and £36,500 at 68 to 82 per cent purity. They also discovered over 207g of cannabis worth up to £1,035.

Miss Jacobson told Maidstone Crown Court there was £5,800 in a rucksack in a hall cupboard and more money in other parts of the house, along with scales and other drug equipment.

Small packets of cannabis were retrieved from Barker’s car parked outside.

Maxey told officers she used cocaine and cannabis daily. She claimed she had told Barker to get rid of the cocaine.

Barker was in January 2010 jailed for 44 months for possessing cocaine with intent to supply it. Maxey had in 2005 been given a supervision order for a similar offence.

Judge Julian Smith said both of them were engaged in a commercial enterprise.

“We are not dealing with a relatively modest quantity of drugs,” he said. “What we have is someone acting with his partner to conduct a business on a large, organised scale.”

"This is organised, large scale, commercial and significantly profitable" - Judge Julian Smith

The judge told Maxey: “It may be his fault you are both involved in this but we have reached the stage where your position began to match his. You have played a joint part.

“This is organised, large scale, commercial and significantly profitable.”

But Judge Smith added he was going to be “significantly merciful” when passing sentence.

Det Sgt Garry Cook said: "Barker and Maxey were jointly involved in dealing drugs on a very significant scale. Inside their flat were large quantities of Class A substances and cannabis which no doubt would have ended up on the streets of their local communities.

"Drugs ruin lives and thankfully the courts take a dim view of those who exploit the addictions of others for their own personal gain. We have been able to build a very strong case against these two criminals and the evidence was such that they both had little choice but to plead guilty."

Kerry Waitt, for Maxey, submitted her role was “subservient” to Barker’s.

“Her position is if it had not been for the initiative of her co-defendant she would not be here today,” he said. “She accepts she lent assistance by allowing her house to be used.”

Maxey previously had difficulties with drugs but had tried to put them behind her. She relapsed after two deaths in her family.

“I am pleased to report she has rid herself of drug use,” said Mr Waitt. “She is clean and determined to stay that way.”

Adrian Rohard, for Barker, said the couple met after his client came out prison.

He submitted it was “not straight forward street level dealing”.

“It was never his business or operation,” he said. “At the heart of his addiction is cocaine and cannabis use. He ended up getting into debt to those supplying him.”

But Judge Smith said an argument was “unpersuasive in the circumstances”.