A cocaine dealer riding an e-bike was knocked to the ground by a police officer after a lengthy pursuit through Newport, a court has heard. Connor Sims, 19, had ridden dangerously for almost an hour, tracked by a police aircraft, before an officer tackled him. He then tried to flee on foot but was caught.
When detained, Sims was found to be involved in dealing cocaine, sending hundreds of bulk text messages to a large customer base, offering a delivery service. He was handed a suspended sentence, with a judge telling him he had a choice about the direction his life would take.
Police pursuit details
William Bebb, prosecuting, told Newport Crown Court that Sims came to police attention on April 5 this year during a joint operation by Gwent Police and the National Police Air Service. He was spotted riding a Sur-Ron e-bike dangerously on Beaufort Road but raced off, sparking a near hour-long pursuit.
During the chase, Sims was seen travelling at excessive speeds, riding on footpaths, on the wrong side of the road, and going the wrong way around roundabouts. He narrowly avoided a crash with a van and was seen using his phone while riding. Eventually, an officer tackled him, sending him crashing to the floor, with the air service operator heard saying "Good work" over the radio.
Evidence and sentencing
Sims tried to escape on foot, discarding his phone, but was caught. The Nokia burner phone was recovered, and he was found with £240. A search of his home address seized £1,600 in cash, empty snap-seal bags, digital weighing scales, further phones, and a small bag of cannabis. A further warrant on April 30 found more cash, burner phones, and digital scales, bringing the total cash seized to around £8,000.
Sims, of Augustus John Close, Newport, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession of criminal property, and simple possession of cannabis. He has no previous convictions. Gareth Williams, for Sims, said his client had spent much of his childhood in care and later mixed with a "bad peer group", adding: "Young people do stupid things, make bad decisions - and that's exactly what he's done."
Judge Carl Harrison sentenced Sims to three years detention in a young offenders institution, suspended for three years, with 200 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation programme. He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months and must pass an extended driving test. The judge said the courts often deal with adults who began offending as teenagers, describing them as "adults who have nothing but regret for how they have wasted their lives."
