Rugby player threw drugs out of car in 140mph M56 police chase

After Maredudd Francis crashed, police searched his home and found plenty of evidence to confirm his involvement in the supply of illegal drugs. The 31-year-old is now behind bars - not for the first time, after previously grabbing a policeman's testicles and knocking him unconscious in a brutal attack in which tasers failed to stop him. He appeared before Mold Crown Court this morning, Tuesday, via video link from HM Prison Altcourse, after admitting charges of dangerous driving, possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis, and possessing criminal property.

Josh Gorst, prosecuting, explained how on Sunday, September 29, last year, an officer was on patrol in a marked Cheshire Police car on the M56 eastbound near to junction 11 for Daresbury. The officer was alerted to a vehicle, a grey BMW, which was highlighted on his police system as being suspected of being involved in the supply of illegal drugs. An attempt was made to stop the car, being driven by Francis, with the vehicle leaving the motorway at junction 11 as if it was stopping as requested.

However, the defendant made off at speed on the slip road to rejoin the M56, contravening a red traffic light and narrowly avoiding a crash with a HGV, the court heard. On the motorway, he reached speeds of 139mph, with the officer describing traffic at the time as being 'moderately heavy'. During the pursuit, the officer noticed small white packages being thrown from the passenger side window of the car.

The chase ended when Francis crashed into another car, a Toyota Hilux, and a metal barrier at junction 10 for Stretton. As well as damage caused to the Toyota, the two occupants of that vehicle were described as 'walking wounded'. Francis alighted from the car and surrendered, kneeling down with his hands behind his back.

The officer noticed the defendant had bloodshot eyes which appeared glazed over, and there was also a strong smell of cannabis, with it being the officer's belief that he was under the influence of drugs. A search of the car revealed drug packages and GBP2,500 in cash, as well as two iPhones and a Burberry bag. Following his arrest, North Wales Police conducted a search of the defendant's home, a ground-floor, one-bedroom flat in Coed Aben, Wrexham.

Large quantities of white powder were seized, and this was found to be 668.5 grammes of cocaine of around 80 per cent purity, with the defendant admitting to being a street dealer. Drug experts believe this was the remnants of a larger 1kg block, with the value of the cocaine recovered having an estimated street value of up to GBP30,000. The search also found 378.9 grammes of cannabis with a street value of up to GBP3,560, as well as a Rolex watch and other designer items suspected of being criminal property.

Cash was also found, and when added to the money recovered from his car, this totalled GBP18,121.96. Finally, officers seized a quantity of an adulterant for the purpose of altering the purity of cocaine. Mr Gorst revealed to the court that Francis has three previous convictions for four offences, with the last being a 21-month jail sentence in 2020 for wounding.

Maredudd Francis was involved in a police chase on the M56

Maredudd Francis was involved in a police chase on the M56

This was imposed after he grabbed a police officer's testicles in an attack in which the officer was left unconscious, after also being dumped onto concrete in a rugby tackle, punched and kicked. The judge on that occasion described the former rugby captain, who was tasered three times during the incident and had to be restrained by three other officers, as a 'powerful man with an explosive temper', as well as a 'raging bull'. Mitigation was offered by Philip Tully, defending, who said: "The defendant accepts that only an immediate custodial sentence can be passed in this case."

"He further accepts dangerous driving, having taken the foolish decision to drive away from a police officer when indicated and told to stop." Mr Tully asked for full credit for his client's guilty pleas at the first opportunity, highlighted his 'genuine remorse' and added: "He accepts that he deserves to be punished, and that what he did was wrong." Before sentencing, judge, Niclas Parry said: "I suspect I do not need to tell you the harm these drugs cause in our communities, not only to health, but to households and businesses who are the victims of criminality by desperate drug users.

"Your role was a significant one as a street dealer, and the amount of money seized confirms you were a serious player. "The case is seriously aggravated by your dangerous driving." Francis was sentenced to four years and four months behind bars and disqualified from driving for two years on his release from prison.

After this period has elapsed, he must then pass an extended driving test before getting behind the wheel again.

Francis will appear back before the court later this year for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing, to determine how much, if any, of his ill-gotten gains he will need to repay.