Drug dealer who engaged police in high speed pursuit sentenced
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A drug dealer from Rugby who engaged police in a pursuit in which he drove on the wrong side of the road has been given a 22 month prison sentence suspended for 12 months.
Billy Whiteside of Vicarage Hill pled guilty to possession with intent to supply cannabis, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance.
The 31-year-old failed to stop police after his van was spotted jumping a red light in Leicester Road, Rugby on 8 March 2024.
The police pursuit led them onto Bilton Road where he drove on the wrong side of the road.
The pursuit came to an end in after he crashed into a car and fled on foot. He was finally arrested on Main Street, Bilton.
A search of the van led to the seizure of a large quantity of cannabis, scales and three mobile phones.
PC Mateusz Dabrowski from Warwickshire Police said: “This was an extremely dangerous pursuit that put other road users at risk. It was fortunate nobody was injured or worse.”
Whiteside was also banned from driving for a year.