A drug dealer who ditched his “stash” during a police car chase is paying for his criminality with a second prison sentence arising from the same incident.

Joshua Baker has served a 14-month prison sentence after admitting dangerous driving, resulting from the pursuit, when he failed to stop for police while driving a Volkswagen Golf, on Lanchester Road, County Durham, at 9.40am on June 9, 2021.

The chase took in several country roads, but ended in Dipton, near Stanley, after police lost sight of the Golf.

Durham Crown Court heard the car was located later in the day and Baker was found at a nearby address and arrested.

Read more: County Durham man denies dangerous driving in police chase

The 23-year-old defendant, of Lambton Gardens, Burnopfield, near Stanley, who has since completed the custodial element of the sentence, was back before the court on Monday last week (Monday March 6).

He admitted supplying a class A drug, cocaine, between August 11, 2020, and June 9, 2021, plus possession of a class A drug with intent to supply, also on June 9, 2021.

The Northern Echo:

Sentence was adjourned until Friday (March 10), when the court was told that a bag thrown from the Golf during the chase was found to contain 28.4g of cocaine, with 41-per cent purity, which was split into 72 deals in smaller bags, some of which carried traces of Baker’s dna.

Jane Waugh, prosecuting, said the drugs were valued at £3,160 in sale terms, while examination of Baker’s mobile phone, recovered on his arrest, showed he was involved in dealing for the previous 10 months.

Read more: Seaham drug user warned he faces prison with one more conviction

Miss Waugh said following his arrest the defendant was interviewed twice and denied selling cocaine.

But, after his eventual guilty pleas, last Monday, his counsel, Tony Davis said both the driving and drug offences could have been dealt with at the same time, given the dna evidence was available by August, 2021.

“He’s now had a taste of custody and an update by his offender manager states that following his release he has successfully complied with curfew requirements and completed work with risk management and rehabilitation, while on licence.”

Judge James Adkin said the circumstances of the case were “unusual”, given the delay between the driving matters being dealt with and the drugs offences coming before the court.

Read next:

               Four men jailed in separate cases before Durham Crown Court last week

               Thugs, perverts and drug dealers faced justice last month

               WATCH: Consett man jailed after cocaine and cash found in VW Golf

Get more from The Northern Echo and read more stories like this by subscribing to a digital subscription from only £1.25 a week here. Click here

He told Baker: “In passing sentence I have to factor in that delay and the fact you have served a sentence, been released and performed well in the community, and that allows for a downward movement in sentence.”

Deducting a further three months from the sentence to mark his guilty pleas, Judge Adkin imposed a 33-month prison sentence.

Proceeds of crime proceedings have now been put in place, with a potential confiscation hearing listed for June 23.