Drug dealer who fled from police on wrong side of the road jailed for 21 months

Keelan Craig Maidment, 22 and of Frost Lane, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court after pleading guilty at a previous hearing to possession with intent to supply cannabis, possession of criminal property and dangerous driving.

He was banned from driving for two years and four months and told he would have to take an extended test before getting his licence back.

The court heard that the offences related to two separate incidents which involved possession with intent to supply cannabis.

On the evening of Thursday April 16 last year officers spotted a Volkswagen Golf being driven along Ringwood Road in Poole. Attempts were made to stop the vehicle. During this time the car was driven towards oncoming traffic on the wrong side of the road.

Officers then lost sight of it but the car was found abandoned in Haymoor Road a short time later.

Following a search of the area, involving the dog unit and police helicopter, Maidment was found. Discovered nearby was a sports bag containing a large amount of cannabis, some of which had been bagged, scales, unused bags and two mobile phones. A large quantity of cash was also found tucked into his sock, the court was told.

The second incident happened on Tuesday October 20 when officers saw Maidment at the wheel of a Seat Ibiza parked in Hutley Way. Officers recognised it and located it in Moore Avenue. Maidment ran away from officers and was seen to discard a shoulder bag.

Maidment was arrested nearby and the bag was retrieved. It contained a large amount of cash, three mobile phones, a dealer’s list and a small amount of herbal cannabis.

Detective Constable Ben Griffin, of Bournemouth CID, said: “I hope the sentence handed out by the courts will send out a very clear message that drug dealers will not be tolerated in our communities.

“I would like to thank those members of the public who assisted officers with this investigation.”

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