A PENSIONER was jailed for five years today after trying to smuggle cocaine worth almost £80,000 into the country, the UK Border Agency said.

Derek Orton, 76, originally from Alresford, Essex, was arrested at Heathrow Airport after getting off a flight from Nairobi, Kenya, on Thursday February 11.

He was carrying around two kilos of the drug in a briefcase.

The 76-year-old, who lives in Uganda, pleaded guilty to drug smuggling charges and said he did it to pay for his daughter's education.

He was sentenced to five years in prison by a judge at Isleworth Crown Court in London.

Speaking after the case, Peter Avery, assistant director at the UK Border Agency's Criminal and Financial Investigations directorate said: "Mr Orton knowingly tried to bring into the UK a hard drug that devastates lives and communities, and this sentence is a strong warning to anyone who believes drug smuggling is acceptable.

"The UK Border Agency is at the forefront in the fight to prevent illegal drugs entering the UK, and our officers operate maximum vigilance at all our ports and airports.

"This case shows that it doesn't matter who you are - or how old you are - if you try and smuggle drugs into the UK we will prosecute you, and you will end up behind bars."