Two-time drug dealer mounted pavement in Leeds and almost hit pedestrian during Mercedes chase
A dealer who was spared jail two years ago has been locked up after he was found selling again following a police chase in which he almost drove into a pedestrian.
Fallie Biasonama desperately tried to flee officers in a black Mercedes before crashing and successfully getting away on foot.
The 25-year-old was later arrested trying to board a flight to Italy.
It came just four months after he was told by a judge that he was “exceptionally lucky” not to be jailed for drug dealing, and only an “inexcusable” delay in bringing the case to court saved him.
But his luck ran out and he was jailed for more than four years at Leeds Crown Court this week.
The court was told that police in Kirkstall saw the Mercedes at around 8pm on November 11, 2023.
It flagged up as having no insurance, prosecutor Zanisha Herbert said.
He was told to stop, which he did, and when an officer got out to speak with him, he drove off at speed.
He went through a red light on Cardigan Road, travelling at 50mph in a 30mph zone, and mounted a pavement to get around stationary traffic. A pedestrian was forced to take evasive action and jump out of the way.
The Mercedes then crashed into three parked vehicles and Biasonama ran from the scene.
However, he had dropped his mobile phone, £885 cash was found in the car, along with cannabis, ketamine, MDMA and cocaine worth a total of £1,510.
His fingerprints were found on the wraps of drugs and his DNA found on the airbag deployed when he crashed.
Biasonama, of Lincombe Drive, Gledhow, was later arrested at Gatwick Airport preparing to board the flight.
He gave a no-comment interview to police.
Appearing in court from HMP Leeds, where he was being held on remand, he admitted two counts of dealing in Class A drugs, two of dealing in Class B, possessing criminal property and dangerous driving.
He had been given a 24-month sentence, suspended for 24 months, in August 2023 for dealing in cocaine, MDMA and ketamine in Leeds.
Mitigating for this latest offences, Safter Salam said Biasonama had been pressured to sell drugs. The dealers he owed money to had caught up with him after his last court case.
Mr Salam said after his last suspended sentence, Biasonama found himself living in the same area and with the same pressures to sell drugs from the same people.
Mr Salam added: “He initially resisted but succumbed. He said he should have been stronger.”
He said Biasonama had since been shot in the stomach where the bullet is still lodged.
Mr Salam said Biasonama was only going to Italy with his girlfriend for “nothing more” than a holiday.
Judge Simon Phillips KC jailed him for 40 months for the new offences, and activated 12 months of his suspended sentence, making a total of 52 months.
He was also banned from driving for 60 months and ordered to take an extended retest.