This is the moment detectives discovered a huge stash of drugs hidden in a half-built building.
The footage – and a video of the dramatic high-speed chase that resulted in his arrest – was released after Jonathan Crosland from Cawood, Selby, was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison for being involved in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine.
He was jailed at York Crown Court today (Friday), after being found guilty at a hearing earlier this year.
A police operation to gather detailed evidence of Crosland’s activities was formed in early 2021 by York and Selby Intelligence Department.
Following weeks of investigation, on Wednesday 3 March officers witnessed Crosland travel as a passenger in a 4×4 vehicle and visit a partially built building on his farmland in Selby.
He was then seen to leave the building and visit what was suspected to be a ‘drop-point’ at the end of a track on the same farmland.
Officers attempted to stop the vehicle after Crosland left the site. However, it made off across nearby fields and failed to stop when instructed by the two police vehicles in pursuit.
Dash cam footage from one of the police vehicles captures the moment Crosland attempted to decamp and make off from police, down a stream.
Officers soon caught up to him and detained him on suspicion of being involved in the supply of class A drugs. The driver of the 4×4 later pleaded guilty to failing to stop and was given a conditional discharge.
Street value of £170K
At the same time a warrant was executed at the farm where Crosland lived and the whole of the farm was searched – including the partially built building which was suspected as being used as a ‘stash point’.
They recovered substantial quantities of heroin and crack cocaine found hidden in the cavity walls of the building. The total amount of drugs found amounted to 5kg for onward supply at a street level; this is believed to have a street value of £170,000 plus.
Following Crosland’s sentencing, Detective Inspector Michelle Falkingham of North Yorkshire Police who lead the investigation said: “The prosecution of Crosland has disrupted and broken a major chain suppling class A drugs into Selby, York and beyond
“The movement and supply of drugs involves the exploitation of vulnerable people and Crosland was profiting from and living off the misery of others for his own gain.
“North Yorkshire Police is committed to identifying and dismantling organised criminals that supply drugs in our county and we will not rest until we have put the drug dealers behind them, behind bars.”