A van containing two London drug dealers was driven at speeds of up to 70mph during a police chase round an Ipswich housing estate, a court has heard.
Police officers in an unmarked car began following the van driven by 26-year-old Marcel Christie at the Copdock roundabout on the outskirts of Ipswich at around midday on October 15 last year, Ipswich Crown Court was told.
The van suddenly changed lanes and turned into Robin Drive when the occupants realised they were being followed and over the next five minutes the van was chased by police along Hawthorn Drive, Mallard Way, Birkfield Drive and Carolbrook Road where it eventually came to stop.
Lori Tucker, prosecuting, said that at one stage during the chase the van had stopped but had driven off when two police officers approached the vehicle and tried to smash the driver’s window.
Another police car joined in the chase and tried to stop the van by driving into the back of it, said Miss Tucker.
During the chase the van reached speeds of up to 70 mph in a 30 mph limit and oncoming cars were forced to mount the pavement or verge to avoid a collision.
The van had also driven straight over two mini roundabouts and had driven past a school.
After the van came to a halt in Carolbrook Road, which is a cul-de-sac, police officers arrested Marcel Christie and Jesse Singh and discovered 60 wraps of crack cocaine and 11 wraps of heroin with a street value of £1,000, said Miss Tucker.
The men’s DNA was found on the packaging containing the drugs.
Christie, 26, of no fixed address, admitted possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, using a vehicle without insurance and breach of two suspended prison sentences. He was jailed for four years and banned from driving for three years.
Singh, 27, of London admitted possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply and was jailed for 32 months.
Sentencing the men Judge Martyn Levett said the chase had taken place on a busy housing estate at lunchtime.
He said the van had driven at speed past a school and an error of judgment could have resulted in serious consequences.
Marilyn Vitte for Christie said her client was genuinely remorseful.
She said he had been offered £125 to drive Singh to Ipswich to deliver drugs.
“He had no contact with the supplier of the drugs and he did not know who they were going to be delivered to,”said Miss Vitte.
She said the police chase had lasted for five minutes and no-one had been injured.
Richard Flavin for Singh said his client was a cannabis user and had been asked to bring drugs to Ipswich after getting into debt to his drug supplier.
He said he had panicked and tried to run away from police officers because he realised the seriousness of the situation he was in.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here