A DEALER who was selling cocaine to fund his own habit led police on a dangerous pursuit after he was seen to be involved in a drug exchange.

Waqaar Ali drove his rented BMW so badly that officers were forced to stop pursuing him over fears of a serious incident.

Preston Crown Court heard how the 32-year-old drove on the wrong side of the road, went through red lights and exceeded the speed limit on several roads in Blackburn before he abandoned the vehicle on Minnie Terrace.

While officers had stopped pursuing Ali, they were able to track down the vehicle and later found the dealer hiding in a back garden with a plastic bag containing over £1,000 worth of Class A Drugs.

Speaking about the incident, Judge David Potter said: “At that stage and for many years before, your life was blighted with an obsession for acquiring and taking cocaine for your own use.

“That use I am sure, had spiralled out of control and I am sure that you therefore started selling cocaine to fund your own habit.

“So it was on the 29th of April 2019 plain clothed officers were on duty when they noticed a BMW occupied by several white men.

“After maintaining observations, a passenger alighted from the vehicle and at the same time another BMW, driven by you, arrived. The white man crossed the street and was to the observation of the police, intent on obtaining a quantity of drugs.

“Having completed that exchange he made his way back to that car and your vehicle drove away.”

Officers then made the decision to pursue Ali, activating emergency lights and sirens. However intent on escaping, the dealer ignored requests to stop and instead led the police on a high-speed chase around Blackburn.

Judge Potter said: “You were driving at high speed with little or no regard for other road users, in broad daylight and eventually the police had to pull back such were the concerns they had for the manner your vehicle was being driven.

“The next time your vehicle was spotted it was abandoned. A police constable made his way down the alleyway and located a garden gate. You were behind that gate and holding it shut.

“A forced entry was made, and you were detained. Near to where you were detained was a plastic bag which contained 13 bags of cocaine. You were found in possession of a mobile phone and £40 cash.”

The court heard how Ali had made the most of his time on remand by getting clean from drugs.

Saleema Mahmood, defending, said: “He has never been convicted of any drug offence involving Class A drugs despite having what appears to be a substantial addiction.

“That addiction grew and he became heavily dependent on cocaine. No doubt there was an element of being able to fund his own habit.

“Mr Ali sees his time on remand as being a blessing in disguise. It has allowed him to rid himself of his addiction and he is drug free. He has gained weight and is healthier. He intends to continue along that path.”

Ali was jailed for three years and four months.