Drug dealer who tried to escape from officers jailed

A drug dealer who put officers and the public at risk after mounting the pavement to try and escape in his vehicle has been jailed.

On January 8 this year, Leon Croke, 24, of no fixed abode, was sighted by officers driving his Volkswagen Golf through Pinehurst, Swindon, before parking on Abbey View Road, Moredon.

Officers approached in unmarked vehicles and parked to prevent him from driving off, illuminating their blue lights.

Croke then attempted to escape in his vehicle, crashing into a parked vehicle before reversing while officers were surrounding the car, narrowly missing several officers.

He then accelerated and mounted the pavement, crashing into a small wall before mechanically trapping his car between the wall and a parked van.

Officers then smashed through Croke’s window and he was detained. A search of his vehicle was conducted and a large machete was found behind the passenger seat, as well as around 1kg of cocaine and 100 white and black wraps, thought to be class A drugs.

Croke was arrested and charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, possession of a zombie knife, possession of criminal property and dangerous driving.

Further searches at his address located a substantial amount of cocaine, a cutting agent and around £38,000 in cash. 

At Swindon Crown Court on Friday (21/03), Croke was sentenced to four-and-a-half-years’ imprisonment.

Investigation officer PC 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.

“Searches of his vehicle and his address in Swindon found a significant quantity of cocaine, plus a zombie knife which there can be no justification for possessing.

“I’m pleased that the courts have recognised the severity of Croke’s actions and put him behind bars.”