A drug dealer who attacked a police officer in Peterborough in an attempt to evade arrest has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.
Officers from the Neighbourhood Support Team were on routine patrols in the Lincoln Road area of Millfield on the evening of 2 September 2021 when they came across a red Audi A3 causing an obstruction.
Parked at the junction with Searjeant Street on double yellow lines and blocking the road, one officer went to speak with the driver – 34-year-old Soran Abdullah – when he noticed what looked like cling film wraps of drugs in the footwell.
The passenger, 26-year-old Shaxawan Beker, ran into Lincoln Road and was chased by another officer who warned him he had a Taser and to stop running.
He was seen to throw a package, later confirmed to be up to £12,300 worth of cocaine, into the front garden of a nearby house, before the officer caught up with him.
The pair struggled with each other, prompting the officer to press the emergency assistance button on his police radio, however Beker managed to force him to the ground.
Despite the officer using his Pava – an incapacitant spray – Beker repeatedly punched the officer in the face and attempted to grab hold of his Taser but was unsuccessful so grabbed the Pava and sprayed it directly in the officer’s eyes.
Officers came to his aid and detained Beker, also recovering the package he threw nearby. A further package containing up to about £2,500 worth of cocaine was found in the red Audi, along with boxes of illegal cigarettes, resulting in Abdullah’s arrest.
The pair appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday (10 February) where Beker, of Essendyke, Bretton, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison after previously admitting possession with intent to supply cocaine, assault with intent to resist arrest, possession of an offensive weapon (the officer’s CS spray) and possession of cannabis.
Abdullah, of Robert Rayner Close, Orton Longueville, was handed a two-year conditional discharge and must pay £1,000 in costs after previously admitting two counts of possession of cocaine and acquiring criminal property, namely a large quantity of cigarettes on which duty had not been paid.
A conditional discharge means the offences are registered on Abdullah’s criminal record but no further action is taken unless he commits a further offence within the specified time – two years in this instance.
Detective Constable Gordon Logan, who investigated, said: “Beker knew he was in trouble as he had a substantial amount of class A drugs on him, and it was clear he wanted to do anything he could to avoid arrest.
“Thankfully, the officer did not sustain any serious injuries, however this was an incredibly frightening incident.
“As police officers, we accept there is an increased level of risk each day we come into work – it is our duty to protect the public from people like Beker. However, it is not acceptable to be assaulted in the line of duty.
“The incident drew a large crowd and while many people stood and filmed, there were a few people who came to the officers’ aid and helped – I would like to thank those people for the compassion they showed and assistance.”
Anyone with concerns or information about drugs can report to police online here.
