Stourbridge drug dealer drove car into a police vehicle

Wesley Bristow was with partner Melissa Ball when he was stopped by police in Cecil Street after being seen to do a deal with someone on the street, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

But when police asked the 24-year-old to get out of the vehicle, he struggled with officers and drove into a second police vehicle in front, which had also attended the incident on August 9.

Following his arrest, quantities of cannabis and the stimulant mephedrone, known as M-cat, were found in the car as well as £710 in cash.

The baby in the back of the car was not the couple's child.

At the court hearing yesterday, Bristow, of Austin House, Cradley Road, Netherton, admitted to possessing cannabis with intent to supply and dealing cannabis.

Further charges of possessing a lock knife and dangerous driving were put to him, but he denied both. These charges were not pursued by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Ball, aged 18, of Sandringham Way, Brierley Hill, admitted possessing cannabis and M-cat.

Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting, told the court: "When arrested, Ball said all the drugs were hers and were for personal use – police thought she was trying to protect her partner.

"It's clear the Crown never believed what she said in her statement, and believe Mr Bristow was in joint possession of some of the drugs."

Judge Robin Onions told Bristow he faced a prison sentence, but gave him bail until a sentencing hearing on May 23.

Ball, a student, cried throughout yesterday's hearing. Ball, who is the mother of the couple's seven-week-old child, was also given bail. The court heard the baby had been born eight weeks premature.

Judge Onions told Bristow: "Custody is inevitable, the question is how long it will be. You need to start making changes to your life. If you want to be a father to your child you had better start changing, first thing you can do is to start complying with the law."

The judge described Bristow's record of cannabis possession convictions as 'dreadful' and wanted to keep him in custody until sentencing hearing. But he agreed bail after hearing about the premature baby.