Drug dealer jailed after hiding from police in loo

A drug dealer has been jailed for four years and four months after trying to escape from police by locking himself in a hospital toilet.

Curtis Harris, 21, was arrested on 12 February 2023 after he was seen speeding in a car at night, and officers found evidence of drug dealing on his phone.

Months later his motorbike collided with a car while disqualified from driving, leading to him being treated for injuries in hospital under guard from the officers he tried to evade.

Harris pleaded guilty at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court to suppling cocaine, crack cocaine and cannabis, as well as driving a motorbike whilst disqualified and without insurance and a charge of escaping from lawful custody.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard on Friday that on 11 July 2023 Harris collided with a car on Merthyr Tydfil's Gurnos Road while riding a motorbike - despite being disqualified following the previous incident - and broke a number of bones.

While being treated at Prince Charles Hospital he attempted to escape from the police officers guarding his bed on 22 July.

Harris ran down several flight of stairs into a locked corridor before hiding in a toilet cubicle, forcing officers to kick down the door.

Harris, from Twynyrodyn, Merthyr Tydfil, appeared in the dock on Friday wearing a neck brace, and the court was told he is due to undergo major spinal surgery.

Kathryn Lane, defending, said his escape was "short-lived and opportunistic" and her client "clearly didn’t have anywhere to go as he locked himself in the toilet".

The court heard that Harris has four previous convictions for 16 offences, involving the supply of drugs and dangerous driving.

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke sentenced Harris to four years for the drug offences and four months for the charge of escaping, to be served consecutively.

He was also given six penalty points on his licence.