Two drug dealers have been jailed after police discovered crack cocaine, cocaine, and heroin worth around £250,000 in a car linked to them.
Joshua Hawkins, 35, and Aliyah Amin, 23, were sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty to multiple drug supply offences.
Picture credit: Leicestershire Police
The pair were caught following a dramatic police pursuit on 23 June, when officers spotted Hawkins driving a bronze Mazda 3 in De Montfort Street, Leicester. Knowing he was disqualified from driving, officers attempted to stop him — but Hawkins refused to turn off the ignition and sped away, driving the wrong way down a one-way street.
The car was later found abandoned in Mercury Close. A search for Hawkins continued, and just over an hour later he was seen fleeing from his home in Hamilton. Officers chased and arrested him following a short foot pursuit.
A search of the property, which Hawkins shared with Amin, led officers to an Audi A4 registered in her name. Inside the vehicle, police discovered a backpack containing large quantities of crack cocaine, cocaine, and heroin. The drugs were estimated to have a total street value of around £250,000.
Both Hawkins and Amin were arrested and later charged with possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply. Hawkins also admitted a further charge of dangerous driving.
At sentencing, Amin, of Lakeview Chase, received six years in prison, while Hawkins, also of Lakeview Chase, was jailed for 10 years.
PC Joe Turner, the investigating officer, said: “When officers first tried to speak to Hawkins, he knew he was in trouble and immediately fled. His sole focus in that moment was trying to evade police — he had no regard for other road users or pedestrians.
Thankfully, he was found and arrested little over an hour later before he could do something that could’ve had far more catastrophic consequences.
We take drug dealing extremely seriously and will bring those responsible for putting them on the streets of Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland to justice. I hope the public can take some reassurance from the fact both offenders in this case are now facing the consequences of their crimes.”
