A lorry driver will be spending Christmas behind bars after being convicted of smuggling drugs worth £111,000 into the UK in a fake fuel tank.

David Treloar, 48, of Ravenscourt Drive, Basildon, was today starting a four year sentence after being found guilty by a ten to two majority after a four-day trial at Canterbury Crown Court. He had pleaded not guilty.

After his conviction it emerged that Treloar had been forced into the illegal trade to help support his family who have a history of ill health.

One of his daughters suffered a childhood stroke, a six-year-old grandson suffered an illness that was likely to affect his life expectancy, his wife had severe back problems and Treloar had diabetes.

For more details on this story, see today's Echo.