A Birkenhead man has been sentenced to eight years in prison in Venezuela for drug trafficking, the Foreign Office said.

Paul Makin, 31, pleaded guilty after he and his wife were caught with more than 50lb (23kg) of cocaine, a statement from prosecutors said.

Laura Makin pleaded not guilty and will face trial, it said.

The couple were arrested on February 16 after 53lb (24kg) of cocaine was found in their suitcases at Porlamar airport on the holiday island of Margarita as they tried to board a flight to London.

Makin claimed he thought he was carrying diamonds, not drugs.

The pair, who were immediately detained, were travelling with their two-year-old twin girls Libby and Lucy and Mrs Makin’s children from a previous relationship, Jack, eight, and Megan, seven.

Venezuelan authorities took the children into care until relatives took them back to England.

Makin told The Times a friend had put him in contact with a British man from London who had also travelled to the island and briefed him on taking the diamonds out of the country.

Bus driver Makin, a former Cheshire Regiment soldier, was already wanted by UK police after failing to attend court.

Makin, of Woodchurch, Birkenhead, was due to stand trial at Liverpool Crown Court on February 9 charged with affray and possessing a machete but never showed up.