Drug dealer caught after nearly crashing his car... right in front of police

The officers followed Daniel Griffin to an industrial estate where they saw him throw a package from his car.

Police then stopped the 25-year-old and recovered the discarded parcel that contained 26 wraps of cocaine worth more than £1,000, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

Griffin also had £255 cash on him.

Mr Gareth Walters, prosecuting, said the two officers saw the defendant almost crash into another car while turning out of Baldwin Street onto Salop Street, Bradley.

He continued: "They followed the vehicle to a nearby industrial estate where it stopped and they saw an arm reach out of a window and throw a packet over some fencing."

The officers prevented the car from leaving, detained the suspect and found the package. The money was discovered when Griffin was searched after being taken to a police station for questioning.

He was paying off a drug debt by acting as a courier, explained Mr David Swinnerton, defending, who added: "He owed £500 and was being coerced by others.

"He was holding drugs and then supplying them to the dealer when asked to do so. He was acting as a custodian and was not involved in actual street dealing. He has a drug habit which has now been reduced and is currently costing him £10 a day."

Griffin from Hill Street, Bradley, Bilston, who had a previous conviction for assault, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply and was jailed for 16 months.

Recorder John Edwards said: "You were repaying a drug debt and have no record of drug related offences. It is good to see that you have significantly reduced your drug habit but Class A drugs bring despair and degradation to the streets of Wolverhampton."

Griffin was jailed for 18 months.