A drug dealer claimed he was “out enjoying a walk” despite stashing a haul of cocaine in some brambles.

Almost 220 grams of the illegal substance were discovered in woodland near Hornbeam Avenue in Tunbridge Wells.

It turned out Aden Maynard wasn’t just out for a stroll but had a leading role in a drugs supply chain across West Kent. He has now been jailed.

He was initially seen acting suspiciously by police outside an address in Hornbeam Avenue.

Patrols had attended a disturbance in the area on July 13.

Maynard was wearing a shoulder bag and after spotting officers, ran into woodland close by.

He was found by one of the constables but no longer had the bag. He claimed he was simply out enjoying a walk.

Sniffer dog Charlie was brought in to help search and led officers to an area in the woods near an abandoned fridge.

The bag was hidden in dense foliage and contained drugs with an estimated street value of at least £30,000.

More than £1,400 cash was also recovered along with phones and a lock knife.

Maynard was later arrested and a review of one of the mobiles linked it to a drugs network known as the AD line.

An investigation also led to the recovery of CCTV from shops in Swanley and Westerham, which showed him paying for the phone to be topped up.

A sales receipt was also found in the shoulder bag for a TV and oven. This led officers to a retailer in Orpington where security footage showed him buying the goods.

Maynard, of no fixed address, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine, ketamine and cannabis.

He also admitted counts of possessing drugs with intent to supply, as well as charges of possessing a knife in public and possessing criminal property, namely the cash seized.

On Monday (December 2), the 21-year-old was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court to three years and four months’ imprisonment.

PC James Heaver said: “Maynard was seen to return to the woods after we had initially spoken to him and it was clear he was panicked about what we were about to find.

“After almost 30 minutes of searching for the bag we believed he had hidden, Charlie quickly led us to its hiding place.

“This was a significant seizure of drugs and Maynard’s phone provided further and irrefutable evidence of his role in an extensive operation supplying to multiple users.”