Drug dealer Daniel Bassett jailed after attempt to escape police in Gravesend caught on officer's bodycam
12:19, 06 November 2019
updated: 12:54, 06 November 2019
A panicked drug dealer dragged a police officer along the ground for several metres in a botched escape attempt.
Dramatic police bodycam footage shows the moment Daniel Bassett rammed into a police car in a desperate attempt to escape from officers in Gravesend.
Footage of the incident was recorded on bodycam
Daniel Bassett was caught dealing drugs and injured an officer before leading police on a chase through the town.
Patrols in the Albion Terrace area stopped a blue Ford Fiesta after spotting Bassett sitting in the driver's seat talking to a known drug dealer on March 13.
The officer attempted to open the driver's door suspecting a drug deal was taking place but Bassett tried to close the door trapping the officer in the car.
Bassett then reversed at speed with the officer still trapped in the car door dragging him along the ground for several metres.
He was released when Bassett turned the wheel suffering injuries to his knee and elbow.
But Bassett continued reversing the car until he drove into a wall and jumped out of the car to run away.
The 22-year-old was chased and arrested with 80 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine found in the driver's side footwell of the car along with several mobile phones.
He was interviewed but released under investigation.
Then on September 2, officers on patrol near Mitchell Avenue spotted a Vauxhall Astra and a suspected drug deal taking place.
When he saw officers arriving to speak to him, Bassett smashed into a police car and sped off.
A police chase followed as Bassett raced through 20mph limit residential streets at 60mph.
He crashed into a parked car in Vale Road, Northfleet, climbed the bonnet and ran off. He was arrested following a short chase on foot.
Police searched the Astra and discovered class A drugs, cash, mobile phones, scales and other evidence associated with drug dealing.
He was charged with two counts of dangerous driving and possession with intent to supply heroin and cocaine.
Bassett, formerly of St Albans Close, was jailed for five years and eight months at Woolwich Crown Court on November 1 after admitting the offences.
Officer in charge Det Con Terry Hanlon, of North Division CID, said: "Bassett was not only dealing drugs in the area but he endangered the lives of members of the public and officers to try and avoid being caught.
"This is another incident which highlights our officers’ determination to crack down on drug dealing in the county and ensure those responsible are taken off the streets and brought to justice."
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