A DRUG dealer from Witham has been jailed for more than five years after ramming a police car during his attempted escape.

David Newton, 32, was arrested after fleeing police whilst in Sauls Bridge Close, Witham, on August 16 last year.

He rammed his Volkswagen Golf into a marked police car in an attempt to escape and ran off, but was caught during a foot chase.

Cocaine of a street value of £2,500 was found in his Golf and cannabis worth £1,500 was later found at his home in Calamint Road, Witham.

Newton was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine, dangerous driving and possession of cannabis.

He was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison after admitting all charges.

Two other men have also been jailed after being involved in the same organised crime group, operating out of Essex, London and Southampton.

Police executed a warrant at the home of Jake Duhig, 28, in Adey Close, Southampton, on August 27, seizing cocaine worth £17,800.

Duhig was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine, possession of amphetamine and possession of cannabis.

Kristopher Huckle, 38, of no fixed address in Dagenham, was later arrested on September 17. He was charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Duhig was jailed for seven years, Huckle for six years and eight months.

Two other men were also charged by the Metropolitan Police in connection with the investigation and were jailed in 2015.

Detective Chief Inspector Josie Hayes, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “This was an organised and lucrative business stretching across a wide area and each of the defendants performed different roles within the conspiracy.

“Duhig acted as the custodian, storing the drugs at his address, while Newton and Huckle were couriers who took the drugs to customers.

“Overall, class A drugs worth about £140,000 have been taken off the streets as a result of this investigation and will continue to pursue organised crime groups who operate in our communities.”