Leeds drug trafficker rammed police as he was intercepted transporting £120,000 worth of cocaine near to the M1

A Leeds drug dealer rammed a police car as officers intercepted his car as he transported £120,000 worth of cocaine.
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Benjamin Connor was jailed for six years over the incident on July 15 this year when police in unmarked cars arrested the 27-year-old in possession of 3 kg of the class A drug.

Leeds Crown Court heard police put on blue lights and sirens as they tried to stop Connor on the roundabout at junction 41 of the M1 at Carr Gate, Wakefield.

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One vehicle pulled in front of Conner's car but he rammed it out of the way and drove the wrong way down a slip road towards the motorway.

Benjamin Connor was jailed for six years after being caught transporting 120,000 worth of cocaine.Benjamin Connor was jailed for six years after being caught transporting 120,000 worth of cocaine.
Benjamin Connor was jailed for six years after being caught transporting 120,000 worth of cocaine.

Robert Stevenson, prosecuting, said another officer used his vehicle to make contact with Connor's car and managed to force him to stop.

He was arrested at the scene and cocaine was found inside three packages in a shoe box in the footwell.

Mr Stevenson said the drugs had an estimated wholesale value of £105,000 and a street value of £120,000.

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Connor's home in south Leeds was searched and more drugs were recovered from the property.

A total of £3,500 in cash was also found in a safe.

Connor pleaded guilty to two offences of possessing cocaine with intent to supply, possessing criminal property and dangerous driving.

Connor has served a 45 month prison sentence in the past for possessing cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply.

Kara Frith, mitigating, said Connor had managed to turn his life around after serving the earlier prison sentenced but had lapsed into using cocaine.

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Ms Frith said the cocaine did not belong to him but he had been transporting the drug for others in order to settle a cocaine debt he had built up with dealers.

She added: "Benjamin Connor wants to make it clear that what he became involved in was the choice he made.

"He was not threatened or forced in to doing what he did.

"He knows he is facing a significant sentence of imprisonment and his actions will have a detrimental impact on his children and his unborn child."

Ms Frith said Connor rammed the police car as he initally thought he was being ambushed as the police vehciles were unmakred

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Judge Christopher Batty said he had seen references describing the defendant as "hard-working, intelligent, articulate and popular."

The judge added: "You had rebuilt your life. Financial woes are no real answer to being involved in the trafficking of such quantities of drugs."

"There will have to be a significant custodial sentence today."