Man jailed after 'casually walking' down residential street with £25,000 of cocaine
A man has been jailed after he was spotted by police ‘casually walking’ down a residential street with £25,000 of cocaine.
Ian Stead was spotted by officers as they attended an unrelated incident in Stockton at around 5.15pm on January 18.
The 40-year-old ran away and was chased by officers, who followed him along hornaby Road onto Northumberland Road, where he was arrested after being found in possession of a quarter of a kilo of cocaine.
Stead, of Tovil Close, Stockton, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to supply a class A drug.
He appeared at Teesside Magistrates Court the following day where he was convicted, and on Wednesday (Feb 18) was jailed for two years and four months.
PC Guy, from Cleveland Police said: “Stead was found with cocaine worth up to £25,000 in his possession, as he casually walked down a residential street in Thornaby.
“He was startled by officers and was pursued on foot until he was arrested on Northumberland Road, where a quarter of a kilo of cocaine was seized.
“We won’t tolerate drugs being dealt in our communities, where members of the public are blighted by this and the antisocial behaviour and crime that goes with it.
“Stockton response officers acted immediately to pursue and apprehend Stead, and seize those drugs before they could be distributed any further.
“I welcome the sentence handed to Stead today. This incident has demonstrated our commitment to tackling criminals and protecting our communities in Cleveland.”