A Bradford man tried to smuggle cocaine worth more than £21,000 into the country after swallowing 44 packages of the deadly drug.

Carlton Morancie was caught by customs officers at Gatwick Airport as he walked through the green "nothing to declare" channel.

The 26-year-old, of Newark Street, Bowling, was jailed for four and a half years at Croydon Crown Court. He admitted unlawful importation.

Prosecutor Darryl Allen said Morancie landed on August 26 on a flight from Kingston, Jamaica. When he was stopped he told customs officers he had been to his grandmother's funeral.

Mr Allen said: "A urine test was carried out and it was positive for cocaine. He was arrested and he said he had swallowed 30 packages.

"In fact, he eventually produced a total of 44, with a total weight of 300 grammes. The street value was £21,596."

Morancie said a woman in Bradford had suggested he could make some money by acting as a drugs courier. He saw it as a way of clearing his debts.

Defending, Frederic Coford said Morancie, an electrician, ran into financial difficulties through the loss of contracts and customers failing to pay their bills.

He ended up owing around £1,500, became depressed and started drinking heavily.

Mr Coford said: "Then he foolishly allowed himself to be persuaded to bring drugs in. He was to be paid £1,500 for the venture but, when he reached Jamaica, he wanted to back out.

"However, he was subjected to a certain amount of intimidation and he could see no way out of it."

By the time he reached Gatwick, he was feeling ill and was wandering around in a daze before customs officers decided to question him.

Recorder David Mitchell told Morancie: "You have a supportive family who have come all the way from Bradford to be with you today, and you are probably ashamed for the embarrassment you have bought on them."