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Ex-rugby player jailed for throwing drugs out of car during high-speed police chase

Maredudd Francis was jailed following a police chase on the M56 (Picture: North Wales Police / SWNS)

A drug-dealing ex-rugby player threw his stash out of his car window as he tried to evade police during a 140mph motorway chase.

Maredudd Francis, 31, only stopped after crashing his grey BMW into another car during the high-speed chase on the M56 in Cheshire.

Francis, the former captain of Welsh rugby union team RGC, was jailed for four years today following a sentencing at Mold Crown Court.

He had previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis, and possessing criminal property.

The court heard how a police officer tried to stop Francis as he began to leave the motorway at junction 11, near Warrington.

But instead he sped off on the slip road to rejoin the M56, skipped a red traffic light and narrowly avoided a crash with a HGV, the court heard.

On the motorway he reached speeds of 139mph despite heavy traffic, and during the pursuit the officer noticed small white packages being thrown from the passenger side window of the car, the court heard.

The ex-rugby player turned drug dealer was caught throwing bags of cocaine out of his car during the chase (Picture: North Wales Police / SWNS)

The chase ended when Francis crashed into another car, a Toyota Hilux, and a metal barrier at junction 10 for Stretton.

Following the crash, Francis exited the car and surrendered, kneeling down with his hands behind his back.

As well as damaging the car, the two occupants of the Toyota were described as ‘walking wounded’.

The attending officer noticed he had bloodshot eyes which appeared glazed over, and there was also a strong smell of cannabis, the court heard.

A search of his car revealed drug packages and £2,500 in cash, as well as two iPhones and a Burberry bag.

Police later searched his home, a one-bedroom flat in Coed Aben, Wrexham, and found large quantities of white power later revealed to be 668.5 grammes of cocaine of around 80 per cent purity.

Drug experts believe it was the remnants of a 1kg block, with the value of the cocaine recovered having an estimated street value of up to £30,000.

Francis was the former captian of Rugby Union side RGC (Picture: Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency)

The search also found 378.9 grams of cannabis with a street value of up to £3,560, as well as a Rolex watch and other designer items suspected of being criminal property.

Cash was also found at the North Wales property, and when added to the money recovered from his car, this totalled £18,121.96.

Finally, officers seized a quantity of an adulterant for the purpose of altering the purity of cocaine.

Mr Gorst said Francis had three previous convictions for four offences, with the last being a 21-month jail sentence in 2020 for wounding.

This was imposed after an attack on a police officer who was left unconscious after being dumped onto concrete after Francis punched, kicked and rugby tackled him.

Mitigation was offered by Philip Tully, defending, who said: ‘The defendant accepts that only an immediate custodial sentence can be passed in this case.

‘He further accepts dangerous driving, having taken the foolish decision to drive away from a police officer when indicated and told to stop.

‘He accepts that he deserves to be punished, and that what he did was wrong.’

Before sentencing, judge Niclas Parry said: ‘I suspect I do not need to tell you the harm these drugs cause in our communities, not only to health, but to households and businesses who are the victims of criminality by desperate drug users.

‘Your role was a significant one as a street dealer, and the amount of money seized confirms you were a serious player.

‘The case is seriously aggravated by your dangerous driving.’

Francis was also banned from driving for two years on his release from prison.

He must then pass an extended driving test before getting behind the wheel again.

Francis will appear back before the court later this year for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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