Jailed: Telford high-speed chase driver had more than £20,000 of cocaine in car
A man who led officers on a high-speed pursuit which was only stopped when he crashed into a police car in Telford had more than £20,000 of cocaine in his car, a court heard.
Stuart White failed to stop when police put on blue lights and started to pursue him in Lawley and Dawley, on September 16.
The 34-year-old reached speeds of 60mph in residential areas as he shot over red lights and drove on the wrong side of the road to overtake other vehicles, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.
The pursuit only ended when he tried to take a right turn too fast and ended up spinning his car into the front of the police car chasing him, with the drugs falling onto the floor as he was pulled from the car.
White, of no fixed abode, admitted charges of possessing cocaine with intent to supply and dangerous driving when he appeared at court yesterday. He was jailed for four years.
Mr Paul Farrow, prosecuting, said police started pursuing White in Lawley Drive after he went past them at 7.50pm.
He said: "The pursuit ended when he attempted to turn right, but such was his speed he was unable to make the turn.
"The officers following had caught up with him by this stage and a collision occurred as the defendant spun and collided with the front of the police vehicle.
"The defendant was taken out of the car and arrested, as he was lifted up one of the officers saw a black plastic bag fall from out of his T-shirt onto the floor."
Mr Farrow said £260 in cash was found on White and a total of nearly half a kilogram of cocaine. He said it could have a street value of anything between £19,000 and £28,000.
The court heard White was caught just a month after being released from prison for a domestic assault – and while he was on licence after being jailed for supplying cocaine in 2014.
Mr Paul Smith, for White, said his client was resigned to the fact he would be spending a "long period of time in custody" but asked for credit to be given for his guilty plea.
Sentencing him, Judge Peter Barrie said: "You were clearly trying to escape from the police because of the drugs you had on you. You drove at excessive speed in a residential area and caused other road users to swerve out of the way. It was only a matter of luck no other road users were affected by any kind of collision. Your driving was obviously dangerous.
"The reason for it became clear when you were arrested by police and a bag found in your car was cocaine. The value of these drugs was clearly in excess of £20,000 and represented a very substantial quantity for you to have."
White was also banned from driving for 12 months and will face a proceeds of crime hearing next year.
