Drug dealer crashed car and attacked man in street

Ruben Lopes Roque has been jailed for 33 months for drug dealing, assault and driving dangerously

A drug dealer who crashed his car and assaulted a member of the public who tried to stop him running away has been jailed for two years and nine months.

Ruben Lopes Roque, 20, was seen driving erratically before crashing into two parked cars at Haddon Services off the A1(M) at Peterborough at about 12:30 BST on 29 June.

Cambridgeshire Police said Lopes Roque, of Deene Court in Bretton, tried to run off and two people attempted to restrain him, but he grabbed a man by the throat and squeezed it.

When officers arrived, he told them he was “going to kill” the man and woman who had tried to stop him.

'Violent and dangerous'

The force said that after being arrested, Lopes was taken into custody where he punched an officer in the chest.

He then refused to provide a specimen of breath and a search uncovered more than 100 bags of heroin and crack cocaine.

He was also found to have no driving licence and no car insurance.

At Cambridge Crown Court, Lopes Roque had pleaded guilty to:

• escaping from lawful custody

• possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and heroin

• assault of an emergency worker

• assault by beating

• driving while disqualified

• using threatening words with intent to cause fear of unlawful violence

• failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis

• driving without due care and attention

Det Con Sam Egdell said: “Lopes Roque is clearly a violent and dangerous individual, who assaulted and threatened a members of the public and assaulted an officer.

“We will continue to do all we can to disrupt the drugs network in the city.”