Man jailed after police chase on wrong side of road

A man who couriered drugs and drove the wrong way down a dual carriageway during a high-speed chase with police has been jailed.

Klajdi Tafa, 25, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to driving dangerously, driving otherwise in accordance with a licence, driving without third party insurance and possession with intent to supply a Class B drug (cannabis).

Northamptonshire Police said he had been driving up to 120mph on the northbound carriageway of the A43 near Towcester, Northamptonshire, against the flow of traffic.

Tafa was sentenced to nine months in prison and banned from driving for 70 weeks at Northampton Crown Court.

PC Charlie Brown said the 25-year-old "put the lives of innocent road users at risk" with his driving

On the afternoon of 6 April, Tafa was driving on the southbound carriageway of the A43, near Towcester, when his Mercedes was picked by automatic number plate recognition technology.

Officers said they displayed a sign reading "follow me" in the rear window of their car, but instead of complying, the 25-year-old drove off recklessly against the traffic on the northbound stretch of the A43.

After a chase, Tafa crashed into the central reservation before fleeing into nearby fields and through a river on foot.

He was arrested by officers near Silverstone, Northamptonshire.

Following a search of the crashed Mercedes, police seized more than 60 immature cannabis plants in individual plant pots, which were in the boot of the car.

'Stupid of me'

In his police interview, Tafa said he was “acting as a courier under direction” and was “scared of being arrested by the police for cannabis in the vehicle, which is why I panicked and drove dangerously”.

He also admitted that it “was stupid of [him]” and that he was “really sorry for [his] action and wish to express remorse”.