A Banstead drug dealer will spend the next three years of his life in prison after taking police on a high-speed rush hour chase.

On the afternoon of April 24, Ross Locke, of Chipstead Road was seen seen by police selling drugs out of the back of his van in Sutton.

In an attempt to flee the scene and escape, the 30-year-old rammed his van into a brand new police car.

Locke then took off at speed and drove through a busy commercial area and then into small residential roads, all during rush hour.

Officers pursued the drug dealer and within a few minutes had detained and arrested him.

His home was searched by police who found nearly £5000 worth of cocaine, along with over £1500 in cash.

At a hearing Croydon Crown Court on July 18, Locke was sentenced to 40 months in prison.

Detective Sergeant Damian Hill of the Trident and Area Crime Command said: “I am very pleased with this result. Ross Locke has benefitted considerably from his criminality and like many others in his position, assumed impunity.

“I hope this sends a message to other drug dealers, that you never know when police are waiting to bring an end to your enterprise. Drug dealing and the associated criminality brings misery to the lives of many Londoners. In an attempt to evade justice, Locke fled from police, in doing so damaged a brand new police car, and put those in his path in danger. The reckless and selfish nature of this action was recognised by the judge.”