A heroin and crack cocaine dealer smashed his car into a tree after a high speed police chase through a residential area.
The crash came after Ciaran Kennedy, from Birkenhead, drove the wrong way over a roundabout and swerved into oncoming traffic in a bid to avoid being arrested. He was later caught with thousands of pounds of drugs as part of a county lines ring.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Friday, that patrols spotted the 20-year-old's Volvo S60 driving at speed shortly after midnight on September 18 last year. Officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, but he instead took "dangerous measures to escape".
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These included travelling at 50mph in a 30mph zone, taking corners at "excessive" speeds, driving the wrong way around a roundabout and running red lights. Kennedy, of Bridge Street, continued onto Kings Lane in Rock Ferry before losing control of his car on Mount Road and crashing into a tree and a road sign.
The vehicle was "severely damaged" as a result of the collision - dashcam footage of which was played to the court - and the motorist and his two passengers fled on foot. He was caught and arrested though, being found with a small bag of cannabis and testing positive for drugs in his system at the roadside.
Then, at around 3pm on May 10 this year, staff at Kennedy's supported accommodation received reports that he had been dealing drugs and storing the illicit substances in his flat. They found a Tupperware box containing 15 bags of cannabis in a footstool and snap bags of white powder in the kitchen, as well as a safe under his bed.
Merseyside Police were contacted and attended the address at around 8am the following day. His mobile phone was seized and found to have sent a series of flare message advertising these illegal goods for sale, while it also contained contact details for a number of known drug users in the Chester area.
In total, the force discovered heroin with a street value of up to £1,038, cocaine worth £892, £891 of amphetamine and crack cocaine valued at £640. This included a block of a brown substance, later identified to be heroin of a 56 per cent purity.
Kennedy's involvement in dealing came after he had racked up debts from taking drugs and gambling. He now has four convictions for 13 offences, including for aggravated vehicle taking and public order offences.
Nick Cockrell, defending, said: "There is only one sentence that can be passed, it's only a question of length. There are worse examples of dangerous driving, but it is a serious incident of dangerous driving.
"He is fortunate not to have caused serious injuries to himself, those in the car or any other people present. He seems committed to doing everything he can to ensure once he is released he is able to take part in constructive matters and try to ensure he is not back before the courts."
Kennedy admitted dangerous driving, possession of heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine, cannabis and amphetamine with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and possession of cannabis. He was jailed for 46 months.
Sentencing, Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said: "You are appearing in relation to very serious offences. Your involvement in drugs comes within the context of a county lines operation and the supply of these drugs from Liverpool to the Chester area.
"Clearly, you had possession of the graft handset. Suffice to say, there were large amounts of all of these drugs.
"It seems you had amassed debts, not only from your own drug taking habit but also from gambling activities."
Of the driving offence, the judge added: "You were driving through a suburban area. It's very fortunate that someone wasn't injured or even worse."
Kennedy was also banned from driving for three years and 11 months. He could now be ordered to repay his ill-gotten gains under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
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