A drug dealer who was arrested after his car flipped over during a police chase near Colchester has been jailed.

East Anglian Daily Times: Drug dealer Nathan Judah has been jailed for seven years following a trial at Ipswich Crown Court.Drug dealer Nathan Judah has been jailed for seven years following a trial at Ipswich Crown Court. (Image: Archant)

Essex Police officers were patrolling on the northbound track of the A12 near to the Colchester junction at 5.30pm on Monday, January 2 this year when they spotted Nathan Judah, 30, who was wanted in connection with an offence in another county, driving a grey Audi, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Several police vehicles boxed Judah in as they attempted to get him to pull over. However, Judah accelerated and tried to flee, but instead he clipped a police car, before his Audi flipped over, sliding for around 50 metres before coming to a stop.

Police officers ran over to the Audi and used a hammer to smash glass in a window.

Judah was seen reaching into the passenger footwell for something and then trying to hide a cellophane covered package in his underwear.

The vehicle was searched and officers found 138 wraps containing nearly 10 grammes of cocaine and a plastic bag containing 13.4 grammes of uncut heroin.

Judah and his passenger, a 22-year-old woman, were unhurt.

After his arrest, Judah gave police a prepared statement in which he denied intending to supply drugs and claimed they were for his own use.

He said he bought drugs in bulk because it was cheaper that way.

Judah, 30, of Windsor Road, Ealing, denied two offences of possessing heroin and cocaine with intent to supply on January 2 this year, but was found guilty by a jury after a three-day trial this week.

He admitted dangerous driving on the same date and was jailed for seven years and 14 days and banned from driving for four years and one month.

Miss McCulloch said the estimated street value of the drugs was £2,720.

She told the court a message found on Judah’s mobile phone related to drug dealing.

Giving evidence, Judah said had been using drugs since he was 17 and the drugs found by police on January 2 had been for his own use.

Investigating officer PC Esther Talbot, of the North Operation Raptor team, said: “Judah was wanted in connection with an offence in another county when he was spotted by our officers.

“But, knowing that he had a haul of Class A drugs, on board he was determined not to stop.

“Instead, without any regard for the safety of his passenger, other road users and our officers, Judah tried to flee, driving dangerously at speed.

“Fortunately, despite flipping his vehicle, no-one was seriously injured and we were able to arrest Judah and recover a significant amount of Class A drugs from his vehicle.

“The length of his sentence reflects the severity with which the police and courts view those involved in the supply of illegal drugs and I hope it serves as a warning to those involved in this type of crime that they can expect to end up behind bars for a very long time.”

The 22-year-old woman in the vehicle was arrested at the time but later released without charge.