Watch as man carrying £8k in drugs leads police on dangerous Nelson pursuit before hiding in garden
A man who led police on a dangerous pursuit from the M65 before fleeing on foot and hiding in a stranger’s garden has been jailed.
Imran Azam was reported by a member of the public for driving dangerously after weaving through traffic and speeding on the M65 on December 27.
Officers from Lancashire Police’s Road Crime Team later spotted Azam’s black Mercedes CLA on Barrowford Road in Nelson.
When police attempted to stop the vehicle, Azam initially pulled over before suddenly driving off, triggering a pursuit.
Stinger deployed as driver swerved into oncoming traffic
During the chase, a stinger was deployed, but Azam continued to try to escape, repeatedly swerving onto the wrong side of the road in an apparent attempt to block the police vehicle from passing.
He eventually abandoned the car on Bradley Road East and ran off on foot.
Officers briefly lost sight of him, but he was soon tracked down by a police dog, which located Azam hiding in a nearby back garden after he discarded his coat and man-bag in a bin.
Inside the bin, officers also found a burner-style mobile phone and a large quantity of suspected drugs.
Azam claimed he was simply visiting his girlfriend at the address and denied any involvement in the offences.
Crack cocaine and heroin worth £8,000 recovered
Azam was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, dangerous driving, disqualified driving, failing to stop for police and driving without insurance.
Further enquiries confirmed the drugs were crack cocaine and heroin with an estimated street value of £8,055.
He was jailed for six years and 45 days at court last week.
PC Elenor Fields, of Burnley Police, said: “Azam made a decision to drive dangerously, risking not only his life but also the lives of innocent road users and pedestrians.
“Instead of stopping for the police, he led us on a pursuit, not even stopping when he jumped out of his car. Thankfully, he was caught out in his lies by PD Bane and has been brought to justice.
“Dangerous driving and the supplying of drugs will not be tolerated in Lancashire, we will continue to tackle it, and would urge anyone who may see someone driving dangerously, or have information that could assist us to get in touch.”