£13k of drugs thrown over wall during police chase
A plastic bag holding more than £13,000 of drugs was hurled over a garden wall by a man being chased by police, a judge heard.
Ravi Banga was stopped by an unmarked police car while driving along Evans Street in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
The officers followed the hired VW Golf after it appeared to be speeding in nearby Gloucester Street and watched it stop in Lowe Street to allow two passengers to get out before continuing its journey.
Banga was alone in the vehicle when it was forced to stop by police and 'went very quiet' when told it would be searched, said Mr David Bennett, prosecuting.
The 40-year-old defendant then tried to run away, throwing the plastic bag as he went but it was recovered with its haul of heroin and crack cocaine while he was quickly captured after a short foot chase on June 9.
His phone was analysed but revealed no evidence of drug dealing while a second phone in the car was locked and its contents could not be accessed, the court heard.
Bricklayer Banga, who tested negative for drugs, claimed to be 'looking after the drugs' for one of the passengers who got out of the Golf before police pounced.
He said he had been addicted for 12 years and was going to be given drugs as his fee for the chore but had since voluntarily started treatment to help him to kick the habit.
The father of one from Burnham Avenue, Oxley, admitted possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to supply and was given a two-year jail sentence suspended for two years with 140 hours of unpaid work and a four-month night-time curfew.
Judge James Burbidge QC said: "I am impressed by the fact that you are making an effort to rid yourself of your long standing addiction, so it would be wrong for me to try to derail that by sending you into custody."
