'Reckless' drug dealer who fled police is jailed

A drug dealer who mounted a pavement in his car as he tried to escape from police has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Leon Croke, of no fixed abode, was followed through Pinehurst in Swindon by police in an unmarked car on 8 January.

When officers blocked his Volkswagen Golf, the 24-year-old tried to flee again by mounting the pavement and hitting a wall and other parked vehicles.

Police smashes the windows of Croke's car to arrest him and later seized a large machete, about 1kg of cocaine and 100 white and black wraps, thought to be class A drugs.

A "substantial" amount of cocaine, a cutting agent and about £38,000 of cash were also found at his address.

Croke was arrested and charged with possessing class A drugs, possessing a zombie knife, possessing criminal property and dangerous driving.

Police Constable Young, of the Swindon Local Policing Tasking Team, said Croke's actions were "incredibly reckless and dangerous".

"He put several officers, plus members of the public in the vicinity, at risk when he decided to try and escape in his vehicle, and it is fortunate there were no injuries."