Teenage trio face jail after high speed drugs chase in Manor Park

Pat Coughtrey , News Editor Thursday, May 10, 2012
12:00 PM

Three teenagers who sparked a high-speed police chase through Manor Park after stealing a stash of cannabis are facing jail.

Anthony McCormick, Imran Joseph and Christian Paul, all 19, armed themselves with sledge hammers, dumb bells and a knife before targeting a property in Manor Park, at around 2am on October 10 last year.

An eagle-eyed witness spotted them throwing bags of cannabis out of the property and then followed them as they tried to make their escape in a stolen Vauxhall Astra, with McCormick at the wheel.

A police chase then ensued through Dersingham Avenue, Chesterford Road and High Street North, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

James Benson, prosecuting, said: “The defendants were part of a group of three seen at 2am in the process of a burglary on a residential address.

“What was stolen was cannabis, with bags being thrown out of the window.

“A witness followed them and the police took up the chase.

“There was a chase, during which the vehicle was driven dangerously before it stopped.”

Following the pursuit, police found three sledgehammers and a dumb bell in the car, with the knife on the floor near the front passenger seat.

McCormick and Joseph changed their pleas to guilty at the last minute.

McCormick admitted aggravated vehicle taking and possession of class B drugs, while a charge of going equipped for burglary was laid on file.

Joseph admitted being a passenger in a stolen vehicle, possessing class B drugs and going equipped for burglary.

Paul had previously pleaded guilty to being a passenger in a stolen car, possessing class B drugs and going equipped for burglary at an earlier hearing.

An additional charge of having a bladed article in High Street North was laid on file for all three teenagers.

Paul and Mc Cormick, both from Ilford and Joseph, of Romford, will all be sentenced on May 18.