A drug dealer caught with more than £500,000 worth of near-pure cocaine has been ordered to pay back more than £20,000 of his ill-gotten gains.

Christopher Brewer has three months to pay £22,491 or face an additional sentence on top of the eight-and-a-half year term he is serving.

The 28-year-old was jailed earlier this year after police found 13 kilograms of cocaine hidden in his Nizels Lane flat in Hildenborough, near Tonbridge.

The cocaine was hidden behind kickboards in his kitchen and on the roof of the flat, as well as behind a chimney breast.

Police say the haul had a wholesale value of between £500,000 and £1 million with a near 100% purity level.

Brewer had fled to Spain to evade justice, but was caught trying to enter the UK using a friend's passport.

He admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply and possessing criminal property and was sentenced in January.

On Friday, July 27, a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing determined Brewer had raised £477,350 from his criminal activity.

The hearing identified Brewer currently had £22,491 worth of assets consisting of cash seized from the property.

Failure to pay within three months will see his sentence extended by 12 months.

Det Insp Annie Clayton of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: "Although Christopher Brewer is currently serving time in prison, this order made under the Proceeds of Crime Act will ensure that upon his release he will not be able to continue to enjoy the benefits of his criminal activities.

"It is also important to understand that where any future assets are identified Kent Police can revisit the confiscation order and take the case back to the court until the full benefit amount set out in order is satisfied.

"We will continue to use the Proceeds of Crime Act to claim money back from criminals such as Brewer.

"Drug addiction causes so much misery to addicts and their families and it is only right that, as well as receiving a suitable sentence, we pursue the profits dealers have made and return that money to the public purse."