A MAN led police on a car chase before dumping his vehicle that contained crack cocaine and cannabis, a court heard.

Charandor Singh, 31, was told he was lucky that no one was injured and no damage was done as he sped along Dorset roads.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard that Singh mounted a footpath, drove through a red light and exceeded the speed limit whilst trying to evade police on April 10.

Prosecuting, Matthew Mortimer said the defendant, driving a black Audi, failed to stop after an unmarked police car approached his vehicle.

Singh sped down the A31 Ringwood Road at St Leonards before abandoning his vehicle and fleeing on foot towards woods in Ferndown, where he was arrested.

After searching the Audi, officers found wrapped packages of cannabis and rocks of cocaine.

Singh pleaded guilty to possession of class A and B drugs, exceeding a 50mph speed limit, failing to stop, dangerous driving and drug driving.

The defendant has 16 previous convictions for 31 offences, 14 of which were drug-related.

Mitigating, Ella Crine, said Singh ‘panicked’ when police tried to pull him over, which he now accepts was wrong, and ‘deeply regrets’ his actions.

She added that at the time of the offence, he was struggling mentally, following a breakdown in his relationship with the mother of his children, which made him turn back to drugs.

Singh was described as being highly regarded by his brother and his employer at the Southampton docks, where he works full-time.

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Mr Recorder Charles Langley said Singh drove dangerously whilst having drugs in his system, ran through a red light and abandoned his vehicle.

He added that the defendant does suffer from mental health issues but that he fled the vehicle because he knew he had a large amount of drugs inside.

“You are lucky that no one was injured and that nothing was damaged,” Recorder Langley said.

However, he believed the defendant had a good chance of being rehabilitated.

Singh, of Parsonage Road, Southampton, was jailed for 14 months, however, this was suspended for 24 months and he was disqualified from driving for two years.

He must also complete 29 days of accredited programmes and 120 hours of unpaid work.