A cannabis dealer who led police on a high-speed chase through Peterborough – even crashing into a police car – was politeness itself when finally caught. “The seriousness of the chase, you’re the friendliest officer I have had,” Thomas Hill, 22, told the arresting police officer.
Apologising for the number of police cars needed to catch up with him, he said: “I panicked, I’m so sorry.”
Hill, of Rock Road, Stamford, appeared at Peterborough Crown Court last Thursday and was jailed for two and a half years.
He had previously admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, failing to stop for police and possession with intent to supply cannabis.
Hill was also disqualified from driving for three years and three months and must complete an extended re-test before regaining his driving licence.
Detective Constable Dalton Shailes, who investigated, said: “Hill has a history of committing both drugs and driving offences, with him last being jailed for three years back in 2021 – he clearly has not learnt his lesson.
“At such a young age, Hill has got a substantial criminal record and continually puts lives of road users in danger through his disgraceful manner of driving.”
Hill had made off from police on the A47 near Bretton, Peterborough, in the early hours of 10 May.
The silver Volkswagen Passat Hill was driving sped by the marked police car at about 12.30am, resulting in the officer following it while asking over the radio for a check to be carried out on the vehicle.
It flagged as having no insurance and having markers linked to drugs and weapons, therefore the officer signalled for it to pull over, however Hill sped off.
Later that day at about 11pm, traffic officers spotted the same car at the Whittlesey Road roundabout and, being aware it failed to stop earlier that day, illuminated their blue lights but lost sight of the car.
It was spotted again about three minutes later in London Road, heading towards Peterborough city centre.
Witnessing Hill weaving in and out of traffic, the officer signalled for him to pull over, which he initially did in Bishops Road, but sped off as an officer got out of the car to speak with him.
Hill continued to drive dangerously through Peterborough, weaving in and out of traffic at almost double the speed limit and driving the wrong way on roads.
He collided head-on with a police car in Glinton, but Hill carried on driving towards Werrington where he was stung on the Nene Parkway, however he continued driving before being blocked by police cars in Oundle Road.
Hill was initially arrested for dangerous driving and failing to stop for police, but further arrested after checks on the Police National Computer (PNC) showed he was disqualified from driving until 2027 and a large duffle bag and suitcase full of about up to £20,000 worth of cannabis were found in the car.
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