Peddler jailed for ‘£7 million’ drug haul found in St Albans M25 crash

Max Pitt, 28, was sentenced to four years and eight months imprisonment at St Albans Crown Court today (March 18) after an enormous haul of drugs, including methamphetamine, cannabis resin, 'monkey dust' and ketamine, were seized from his vehicle. The court heard how Pitt, of Shackleton Avenue, Widnes, Cheshire was involved in a collision while driving a rental van on the M25 between Junctions 21 (Chiswell Green) and 21a (Bricket Wood) on Tuesday, September 1 last year. Pitt was described as "erratic" and "reckless". (Image: Hertfordshire Constabulary)

Dashcam footage showed Pitt veering into another vehicle - being driven by an off-duty Essex police officer - who suspected he had been drinking or under the influence of drugs. As the van carried on drifting, it bumped into a second vehicle in front. Pitt then ran off from scene and was found by police hiding in a nearby field having discarded his phone.

The vehicle was searched and a calculated value of between GBP4.2 and GBP6.95 million pounds' worth of drugs was seized from the van, which Pitt had been transporting across the country at the time of his arrest. The 28-year-old was arrested and charged with three counts of possession with intent to supply class B drugs and one count of possession with intent to supply class A drugs. He was sentenced to 56 months for possession with intent to supply class A (methamphetamine) and 27 months for each of the three class B offences, to run concurrently.

The incident occurred on the M25 near St Albans. (Image: Hertfordshire Constabulary) Officer in the case, Detective Constable Emma Carter from St Albans CID, said: "Fortunately, no-one was seriously injured during the crash, but Pitt's behaviour was erratic and he was recklessly driving a vehicle under a significant influence of drugs. "If Pitt hadn't crashed, these drugs could have made their way onto the streets which could have caused serious harm, and even deaths, in our communities.

"The judge gave him some credit for admitting his guilt and recognised that he was coerced into being a courier to pay off a drugs debt, otherwise he would have received a lengthier sentence." Drugs seized from Pitt's van. (Image: Hertfordshire Constabulary) Circuit Judge Kamran Choudhry added: "You were a runner or courier to pay off a drugs debt.

I have to take into consideration the harm caused by your conduct." He ordered the destruction of the drugs. Back on January 26 this year, Pitt was also sentenced for driving a motor vehicle exceeding four times the specified drugs limit on the same date.

He was disqualified from driving for 48 months, ordered to pay a GBP240 fine and GBP96 in costs.