A 34-year-old man from Maidstone has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison after police discovered a “criminal hub” operating out of his garden shed. Jake Everts, from Loose, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday, January 15, 2026, after pleading guilty to charges of possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs and possession of criminal property.
The investigation began on July 22, 2025, when officers arrived at Everts’ home following reports of a disturbance at the address. Upon searching the property, police discovered a significant quantity of cocaine and cannabis inside a shed in the rear garden. In addition to the narcotics, officers seized approximately £25,000 in cash, alongside drug-dealing paraphernalia including weighing scales and money-counting machines.
During the search, officers heard a mobile phone ringing from outside the shed. Investigators believe the device had been thrown through a window in a desperate attempt to conceal evidence of drug trafficking. Everts was arrested at the scene, and all items were seized as part of the criminal investigation.
Detective Constable Rohan Gupte said:
‘Everts used a shed in his own back garden as the hub of his criminal actions because he was confident that he wouldn’t be caught.
‘He was shocked when officers arrived at his home and despite quickly trying to hide evidence of his crimes, it was clear that illegal activity had been taking place.
‘We will continue to proactively target criminals who are involved in drug supply in Kent, bring them to justice and seek to confiscate any assets gained by illegal means.’