A former Leicestershire drugs runner who went to Bournemouth to look for a better life ended up in a police chase in a stolen Jaguar.
Officers in the south coast seaside resort became suspicious when they noticed Stuart McDermott's vehicle bore mismatched number plates.
When they signalled for him to stop, he made off along a pavement and went the wrong way on a major roundabout.
McDermott, of Bridgeland Road, Loughborough, admitted 10 counts of supplying heroin and cocaine to undercover officers in June and July last year.
The 37-year-old also admitted dangerous driving and driving without insurance or a licence, on Tuesday, June 11, this year.
Elizabeth Dodds, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court the defendant had last summer been acting as a runner for a supplier living in Tuckers Road, Loughborough.
When undercover officers rang a county lines dealer in the town to make covert test purchases, the defendant was sent to deliver wraps of class A drugs and receive payments of around £15 on each occasion.
Drove along pavement
The court heard that McDermott had 102 offences on his criminal record, with only one crime relating to heroin possession in 2005, and he had no prior convictions involving drugs supply.
Miss Dodds said the Bournemouth incident happened at 9am, and McDermott had "made good his escape" by driving 200 metres along a pavement, at between 10 and 15mph, causing pedestrians to move out of the way.
During the three minute pursuit, McDermott drove along several roads and went the opposite way on a roundabout off a main road.
He then stopped and gave himself up in Old Christchurch Road when another police car blocked his path.
Miss Dodds said: "Although the driving was dangerous and erratic, he didn't go above 40mph."
'Substantial record'
Judge Martin Hurst told the defendant: "You've a substantial record of offending, principally for dishonesty and disorder.
"You were a committed heroin addict living with a heroin and cocaine dealer and acting as his runner.
"You were willing to feed your own habit by dealing for him."
The judge added: "A year later you were down in Bournemouth driving a stolen Jaguar.
"The police recognised it as being stolen and wanted to speak to you, but you failed to stop and drove off.
"You travelled on the pavement and went the wrong way on one of the major roundabouts in Bournemouth.
"It must have been very frightening for other drivers seeing you coming the opposite way.
"I'm encouraged you've now got yourself clean and I hope you continue to build on those foundations."
Bought Jaguar for £250
James Varley, mitigating, said McDermott was a long-standing heroin user who was dependent on the dealer for somewhere to live at the time.
He said: "When called upon he would meet someone to complete a deal that was already negotiated.
"He's now come off drugs and isn't using anything at all, for the first time in 20 years.
"He went to Bournemouth, where his partner was from.
"He bought a 15-year-old Jaguar in Leicester for £250 and they drove down to see the area as he'd decided it was time to get away from Leicestershire and make a fresh start, as he knew he'd struggle to keep away from drugs here.
"The police saw him in what turned out to be a stolen car, which had mismatched number plates, and he drove off, although he did not drive quickly.
"It was an attempt to evade the police with poor driving, but not wanton or reckless driving."
McDermott was jailed for two-and-a-half years.
He was also banned from driving for 27 months.
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