Drugs courier dropped £1,500 of heroin and cocaine while fleeing police in Wolverhampton

Daniel McIntosh had been spotted sitting alone in a stationary black Skoda at Park Lane, Fallings Park but accelerated into the distance when officers tried to talk to him, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The 20-year-old then made a run for it after getting stuck in traffic, explained Mr Patrick Sullivan, prosecuting, who continued: "He tried to escape but was tripped up by one of the officers.

"The defendant dropped a package, got to his feet and dropped another package before being detained."

Analysis later revealed that one of the packets contained crack cocaine worth £940 in street deals while the other held enough heroin to fetch £480 through similar sales, the court was told.

Mr Jasvir Mann, defending, said McIntosh had started smoking cannabis at the age of 14 and was acting as a courier to pay off money owed to his own drug dealer.

The lawyer continued: "He was not going to enrich himself from this vile trade. It would have extinguished the debt that was hanging over his head."

McIntosh had six GCSE qualifications, has completed a business course at Wulfrun College and recently started a plumbing course at Bilston College.

He was of previous good character before being caught with the crack and heroin on May 15 last year and had not committed any offence since, it was said.

"This was a blip and he now faces what could be a turning point in his life but is happy to take on that challenge," concluded Mr Mann.

McIntosh from Chester Street, Whitmore Reans admitted possession of crack and heroin with intent to supply and was given 20 months detention in a Young Offenders Institution suspended for two years with 140 hours unpaid work.

Judge Stephen Ward told him: "You have a bright future and if I sent you to prison you might take an entirely different course in life. You will decide which way you go from here."