A 29-year-old Nigerian man, Michael Awotunde, has been was jailed for seven years and nine months by a United Kingdom court for allegedly being in possession of drugs, possession of a dangerous weapon, driving without an insurance and driving not in accordance with a licence.
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The Metropolitan Police said that Awotunde was sentenced on Monday, 25 April, 2016, after pleading guilty to the following charges:
- possession of heroin with intent to supply - seven years' imprisonment;
- possession of crack cocaine with intent to supply - 7 years' imprisonment (to run concurrently);
- possession of a bladed article - nine months' imprisonment (to run consecutively);
- driving without insurance - disqualified from driving for 3 years;
- driving not in accordance with a licence - no separate penalty.
He was arrested after the car he was driving was forced to a halt by marked police cars as it travelled north on the M11 between Harlow and Bishops Stortford, after he had previously failed to stop for police.
On searching him, officers found a package containing 104 wraps of crack cocaine and 37 wraps of heroin. He was also found to be in possession of a lock knife and after analysing his mobile phone, text messages were found which appeared to show people contacting him with a view to purchasing drugs from him.
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It was also discovered during sentencing that Awotunde was not a first time offender as he had been convicted of drugs offences on two previous occasions.