Shocking video shows a desperate drug dealer jumping red lights and overtaking cars on narrow country lanes in a bid to escape police.
The driving of Patrick McCabe during the hour-long high speed chase through rural Sussex and Surrey was described as ‘appalling.’
Drugs were found in designer bags inside the car.
The drama began when McCabe, 28, who was already disqualified from driving, spotted police while at a car wash in Copthorne, West Sussex.
He sped off in a Volkswagen Golf, fitted with cloned plates, with 19-year-old passenger Ronnie Beckett.
Sussex Police chased drug dealer Patrick McCabe for an hour after they spotted him driving a VW Golf on cloned number plates
Patrick McCabe, pictured, was chased by police firearms officers for an hour on July 12 around rural Sussex and Surrey
McCabe was tracked by the police helicopter which directed units on the ground to his location ahead of his arrest
McCabe drove the wrong way around a roundabout, jumped red lights and overtook in a dangerous manner during the 60-minute pursuit.
A police helicopter and armed officers from the Tactical Firearms Unit joined the chase on Wednesday July 12 this year.
McCabe’s driving was so dangerous that he only narrowly avoided head-on collisions with several vehicles.
Other motorists had to take evasive action, including an emergency stop, to avoid crashing.
McCabe and Beckett eventually abandoned the car on a housing estate in Horley, Surrey.
Beckett was quickly arrested, but McCabe leapt over a fence and tried to escape through back gardens.
He and co-accused Ronnie Beckett, 19, pictured, were arrested after escaping from the car in a Surrey housing estate
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But the police helicopter crew were able to alert colleagues on the ground to his location and he too was arrested.
Police found a Gucci bag and a Versace bag containing cannabis and cash, as well as a bank card in McCabe’s name, inside the car.
McCabe, of no fixed address, admitted dangerous driving, possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply, driving while disqualified and driving without valid insurance.
Beckett, of Ifield, West Sussex, admitted possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply, breach of a suspended sentence order, and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.
Police found McCabe was driving this VW Golf which was carrying cloned number plates
McCabe attempted to escape police by jumping over several fences, unaware he was being tracked by a helicopter
The police helicopter tracked McCabe’s VW Golf as he tried to escape police attention
McCabe was sentenced to two years and five months in prison and was given a new disqualification from driving of five years and four months.
Beckett was sentenced to a total of 17 weeks in prison.
Inspector Ollie Pullen,of Sussex Police’s Specialist Enforcement Unit, said: ‘McCabe’s driving was appalling, he showed no regard for his own safety or the safety of other road users.
‘This case demonstrates the great teamwork and professionalism by officers across the force to ensure that both offenders were caught.’
He added: ‘We are determined to prevent criminals exploiting the road networks for serious criminality.
‘Officers will continue to disrupt the supply of drugs which cause so much harm in our communities.’
Police arrested McCabe, pictured, who was later sentenced to two years and five months in prison. He was also handed a driving ban of five years and four month
Ronnie Beckett, pictured, was jailed for a total of 17 weeks
