MICHAEL: SPEEDING DRIVER WHO ALMOST HIT POLICE OFFICER FACING JAIL

A drug dealer who narrowly missed mowing down a police officer before driving the wrong way down a dual carriage in a frantic car chase is facing jail.

Noah Michael, 18, mounted the curb and swerved around police cars at the wheel of a Renault Clio after detectives tried to arrest him.

The car shot off at ‘excessive’ speeds, before turning the wrong way down the dual carriageway on Eastern Avenue in Ilford, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

Michael had denied allegations of dangerous driving but admitted his guilt part way through a trial.

Prosecutor Emily Dummett had said that Michael and Sanghera were caught out after they drove to a drugs deal arranged by a police test purchase officer.

An officer known only as Terry had bought crack and heroin on four occasions in September and October last year before deciding make the arrests on 11 November.

The officer called the usual contact number, and arranged to meet near Thorold Rd and Myrtle Rd in Ilford to buy two wraps of heroin and two of crack cocaine.

The drugs arrived in the Renault Clio driven by Michael with three others including
Vinny Sanghera, 18, inside the car.

The officer approached the passenger window and paid £30 for four wraps of drugs.

As soon as the drugs and cash had been exchanged, an unmarked police car turned on its blue nights, and a number of plain clothes police officers approached to make an arrest.

‘The car, the prosecution say being driven by Mr Michael, instead revved up its engine and mounted the kerb, narrowly missing TPO Terry, drove around the police vehicles that were parked in its way and accelerated down Bethall Road,’ said Miss Dummett.

‘During the chase, the car was driven at excessive speeds through residential areas and at one stage even turned the wrong way onto a dual carriageway.’

Luckily, there was no oncoming traffic and the car came to a stop after on Eastern Avenue after driving for a short distance down the wrong side.

‘By the time police had smashed their way into the vehicle, the driver, who the prosecution say was Mr Michael, had climbed into the back,’ said Ms Dummett.

Michael, who was sitting in the middle seat, admitted that he was banned from driving in a police interview.

Michael, of Eastbury Ct, Blake Ave, Barking, will be sentenced for conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine, dangerous driving and driving without insurance.

Libby Wenman, of (12) Berengers Pl, Dagenham, and Kowser Uddin, of (9) Carriage Mews, Ilford have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs.

Sanghera, of 5 Danehurst Gdns, Ilford, had been on trial with Michael and continues to deny two char of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs.

He will now be retried.

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