WATCH: Dealer busted with drugs and weapons after police chase through Beds and Herts is jailed for four years at Luton Crown Court
A drug dealer has been jailed for four years at Luton Crown Court after a police pursuit through Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire led to the discovery of cocaine, cannabis and weapons.
Larry Ansell, aged 23, was stopped by police in May while driving a vehicle on cloned registration plates which had been reported stolen from London.
Officers from Bedfordshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit (RPU) were carrying out an intelligence-led operation when they attempted to stop the vehicle.
Ansell failed to stop and led officers on a high speed pursuit through Bedfordshire and into Hertfordshire but was eventually brought to a stop by a stinger used by specialist officers.
Ansell then attempted to flee on foot but was quickly detained by officers. A search of the vehicle found cocaine, cannabis, a large knife and nitrous oxide canisters.
Bedfordshire Police’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) subsequently led the investigation and carried out a warrant at Ansell’s home address in West Lane, Pirton.
Officers found a quantity of Class A and Class B drugs, phones and other drugs.
Ansell pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, dangerous driving, possession of a knife in a public place and possession of an offensive weapon.
He was sentenced at Luton Crown Court on September 24, to four years in prison and disqualified from driving for 37 months and ordered to forfeit £275 seized by police, which will be donated to a nominated charity.
PC Ryan Moore, from the Roads Policing Unit, said: “This was an intelligence-led operation developed over a sustained period by Roads Policing officers targeting stolen vehicles and cloned registration plates.
“Ansell was driving a stolen vehicle displaying cloned plates and was involved in the supply of Class A drugs while carrying weapons that posed a significant risk to both the public and police officers.’
He said: “When he failed to stop for police, he drove dangerously through Bedfordshire and into Hertfordshire. Specialist officers safely brought the pursuit to an end using a stinger deployment.
“This result highlights the value of proactive policing and the strong partnership working between our Roads Policing, Response and CID teams in tackling serious criminality and keeping our communities safe.”