Two Basildon men have been jailed for drug and driving offences after failing to stop in a car carrying cocaine.

Nicholas Tshibangu, of Cherrydown East, Basildon, and Shakeem Brissett, of Somercotes, Basildon, were sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday.

Tshibangu, 22, was found guilty of dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, possession of crack cocaine and perverting the course of justice and was jailed for 16 months, disqualified from driving 18 months and ordered to take an extended re-test.

Brissett, 21, was found guilty of possession of crack cocaine with intent and was jailed for four and half years.

At around 1pm on Thursday, May 23, officers from our Operational Support Group based in Boreham were on patrol of the M25 in Brentwood when they signalled a green Ford Focus to stop.

The car then sped off, weaving in between lanes with police in pursuit. Shortly afterwards the vehicle was abandoned on the M11 slip road and the occupants ran off towards Hobbs Cross with police giving chase.

Brissett was found dumping items including 1.4kilos of sealed crack cocaine into a stream and Tshibangu was found hiding on a porch.

Both were arrested and brought into custody where Tshibangu gave a fake name and address. Further enquiries were made and police were able to find his real details and discovered he was a disqualified driver. A search of home was then carried out and cocaine was found in a bedside draw.

Investigating officer Dc Jack Etheridge, of Operation Raptor West, said: “Tshibangu and Brissett went to extreme lengths to avoid arrest by driving dangerously at speed along a busy motorway. They abandoned their vehicle and ran off before trying to hide and dump their possessions.

“Even in custody Tshibangu believed he could fool police by giving incorrect details, he thought wrong. Further checks revealed he was disqualified from driving and was in possession of cocaine.

“If you deal drugs in our county it will only be a matter of time before we find you and bring you to justice. Tshibangu and Brissett thought they could avoid justice and now they’ve been locked in a prison cell.”

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