A NEWPORT drug dealer who had more than £2,000 worth of cocaine in his car was clocked at 106mph while trying to evade police.

Luke Montgomery, 19, led police on a high-speed chase on the A468 heading towards Newport lasting for eight minutes, driving through a residential area and going the wrong way around two roundabouts – hitting several other cars.

Montgomery, of Brake Crescent, even continued the chase after two of the tyres on his Volkswagen Golf were burst by a police stinger.

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“The longer [the chase] gets, the worse it gets,” said prosecutor James Evans.

Police later saw him trying to escape on foot, but he then returned to the car before attempting to make a getaway, Mr Evans told Newport Crown Court.

Officers then caught Montgomery in a garden, where he attempted to swallow a bag containing cocaine, but spat it out.

The bag contained 104 wraps of crack cocaine, Mr Evans said, weighing 22.4 grams and worth “in excess of £2,000.”

Mr Evans told the court that Montgomery was found with a phone “the type often described as a burner phone” and later examination of this found drug-related messages advertising “raw white”.

Montgomery has two previous convictions for three offences, including a previous offence for possession of cannabis.

Gareth Williams, defending, admitted “I don’t think there is a great deal of mitigation for the dangerous driving.

“He would say he panicked. That doesn’t justify putting other road users at risk.

“He is young. There are maturity issues here.”

Mr Williams said the defendant fully expected a jail sentence for his offences.

“He said he will use his time in custody productively,” he said. “He is doing his best while he is there.

“He is trying to change his ways.”

Judge Michael Fitton said that Montgomery had committed “very serious offences” which “must lead to a prison sentence.”

“Although you are young, you are not a fool, and would have known the seriousness of the offences,” he said.

“You drove like a maniac. This could have easily caused a fatal collision.”

Montgomery was sentenced to a total of three years in prison – two years and two months for a charge of possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, and a further 10 months for dangerous driving.

He has been disqualified from driving for two years upon his release from prison, and must take a mandatory extended driving test.

He faced no separate penalty for driving without insurance and driving without a licence.

Judge Fitton ordered he pay a £190 surcharge.

Speaking after the sentencing, PC Rhys Jones, from Gwent Police, said: “The reckless actions of Montgomery seriously endangered innocent member of the public, and he’s now serving a prison term for his part in the supply of crack cocaine.

“We will continue our efforts to bring those involved in illegal drug activity to justice.”