DRUG dealer and dangerous driver Elvis Pitomina has been jailed after a blue light purist across south Essex

He tried to speed away from Essex officers after their vehicles' blue lights were activated.

But he soon realised he was caught in a trap prepared by the Roads Policing Unit.

Specially trained pursuit officers had been on routine patrol in the Eastwood area in September this year when their attention was drawn to a Renault Megane due to poor driving.

It made off at speed near the A127, sparking a pursuit.

The car reached speeds of between 100 and 110mph on the A127, travelling from Southend to Hornchurch at a dangerous pace.

It nearly collided with a roundabout as officers continued to attempt to apprehend the driver.

Realising his time was up and police weren't going anywhere, the driver stopped in Wingletye Lane and the car was boxed in.

The driver was found to be 21-year-old Pitomina and he was promptly arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

A search of the vehicle uncovered multiple wraps of suspected Class A drugs, alongside a three-figure sum of cash.

A further search in custody found Pitomina had concealed a small box containing 11 bags of cocaine.

Following an investigation carried out by Southend Local Policing Team, he was charged with and admitted possession with intent to supply cocaine and dangerous driving.

At Basildon Crown Court, Pitomina, of Dudley Street, Luton, was jailed for two years and six months.

Adam Pipe, head of Essex Roads Policing Unit, said: "This is exactly the sort of work my teams have been engaged in all year across the county.

"Policing our roads, tackling all manner of criminality, making sure people who cause a serious risk to life through their driving cannot escape justice.

"It's not just about dangerous driving or drink and drug driving – although these offences are priorities for roads policing.

"The arrests we make also support and bolster wider work to deal with offences like theft, burglary and drug dealing."