Wrexham street dealer crashed during police chase in Cheshire
Maredudd Francis, of Coed Aben, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentence on Tuesday morning via video link from HMP Altcourse. The 31-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cannabis and cocaine at Wrexham, money laundering (acquiring/using criminal property - GBP2,000) at Wrexham and Runcorn, and an offence of dangerous driving - which also took place at Runcorn. Joshua Gorst, prosecuting, told the court that on September 29 last year, police on duty attempted to stop a grey BMW vehicle after ANPR cameras flagged it.
It was travelling from North Wales in the direction of Manchester on the M56. Initially the driver, Francis, left the motorway as if to stop for the officer, but then made off on a slip road and returned to the motorway at speed - narrowly avoiding a collision with a HGV. A pursuit ensued, during which Francis reached speeds of up to 139mph on the M56 in "moderately heavy traffic."
Packages were thrown from the vehicle's window prior to it colliding with a Toyota Hilux. 
"He accepts through me that the cocaine and cannabis seized was to be supplied at street level and he understands the serious nature of those offences. "He also accepts that the dangerous driving saw him taking a very foolish decision to drive away from the police officer when he was told to stop. "Mr Francis is still a relatively young man and is able to live a constructive life.
"He's indicated he wants to put his offending behind him and move on, but accepts he deserves to be punished." Judge Niclas Parry told the defendant: "I suspect you don't need me to tell you the harm these drugs cause in our community - not only to heath but to householders and businesses who are the victims of criminality by desperate drug users. "What seriously aggravates this case is that you were involved in a serious case of dangerous driving.
"You were desperate to escape, at one stage reaching 139mph and throwing packages out from the car. "You were a significant street dealer. The amount of money seized simply confirms you were a serious player."
Judge Parry announced that there would be no separate penalty for the class B drugs offence, or the money laundering. However for the class A drugs offence, Francis received an immediate custodial sentence of 40 months. A consecutive sentence of 12 months was handed down for the dangerous driving, making a total of four years and four months.
He was also banned from driving for two years, extended to reflect the half of the sentence he will be spending in jail.