A DRUG dealer who smashed his car into a police officer has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Officers from the North Operation Raptor team were out on patrol in Clacton when they became suspicious of a black Peugeot.

The car was being driven poorly and at speed on Cambridge Road, Old Road, St John’s Road and North Road. 

When the car stopped on North Road two officers approached as they thought a drug deal was about to take place.

Another two officers from the team pulled up behind the vehicle in their unmarked car.

As the officers shouted “police” the driver of the car, Paul Oakley, began reversing at speed.

One officer jumped out of the way, the other constable was hit by the car’s open door, causing concussion, a broken wrist and a broken nose.

The car then reversed at speed straight into the unmarked police car with such force that despite the handbrake being applied the vehicle was forced backwards.

The two officers in that car suffered whiplash, back and shoulder injuries.

He was eventually arrested and searched and was found to have Class A drugs including 31 wraps of crack cocaine and 17 of heroin.

Oakley, 28,  of no fixed abode was charged with two counts of possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply, driving dangerously, driving without a seatbelt and without insurance and money laundering.

He admitted the charges at Chelmsford Crown Court and was jailed for two-and-a-half-years and banned from driving for 27-months.

Sgt Andy Stott of the North Operation Raptor team said: “Oakley had absolutely no regard for the lives of my team when he reversed his car at speed to avoid capture.

“It was only luck that none of us were seriously injured, but those injuries we did receive were bad enough.

“Operation Raptor teams, both in the North and the rest of the county, will continue to leave no stone unturned in our relentless pursuit of those who think they can come to our county and sell drugs on our streets.

“We know that we will face danger, threats and sometimes physical harm. But we remain committed to preventing the harm that these ruthless criminals cause in our communities and like Oakley we will continue to hunt them down, arrest them and lock them up.”

If you have information about drug or gang-related crime in your community, contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.