Drug dealing duo led police on 70mph chase through streets of Leeds

Joshua Shand, 35, and Sufiyan Ali, 23, were both jailed at Leeds Crown Court after pleading guilty to crimes including the supply of Class A drugs and dangerous driving.

The court heard how Shand, of Brookroyd Lane, Batley, was driving with Ali in the passenger’s seat as the pair led police car on a high-speed pursuit down South Parkway in Seacroft.

Prosecutor Mr Davis, detailed how they were “driving erratically” and reached speed in excess of 50mph in a 30mph zone, before even going as high as 70mph through a built-up area.

The pair were arrested after attempting to flee the vehicle with arresting officers finding £435 in cash, small amounts of both cannabis and cocaine found, and a Nokia phone used for drug dealing in the vehicle. Police later found a further £800 in cash at Ali’s address on Oaks Road, Batley.

Mitigating for Shand, who has 35 previous convictions including driving and drugs offences, Mr Khan told the court how his client was “sorry to be in this position” and “promises to never be before the court again.”

Representing Ali, who has one previous conviction, Mr Moran told the court how his client was “deeply remorseful and broken” and had fallen into drug dealing after losing his job. He is determined to get his life straight to support his wife and three-month-old baby.

Sentencing the pair, Judge Clark rejected claims of a reduced role for Ali as it was “clear both men used the phone,” which contained a vast numbers of messages towards drug dealing. He did however accept that letters written by the families of both men showed a “different side to them.”

Shand was sentenced to five years and 11 months in jail, and handed a driving ban of seven and half years, with an extended test at the end of it. Ali was sentenced to two years and nine months.