A driver caught with around £90,000 of cannabis fled from police across a field after being pulled over on the A19.

Altin Shahini, 26, was spotted behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Golf on the A19 Northbound on the morning of February 17. Teesside Crown Court heard police conducted checks which showed the vehicle was linked to organised crime and motioned for the Golf to turn off.

The court heard Shahini parked up but then fled across a field on foot. Prosecutor Ashleigh Leach said the defendant was then spotted running across a bridge which links Wynyard to Wolviston.

She said he ran into a home before jumping over a side wall where he was apprehended by police. The court heard officers searched the car and found a huge amount of cannabis in the boot.

Ms Leach said: “There was 9,447 grams of cannabis. In its current wholesale value the cannabis is likely to be valued at around £27,000 to £45,000 but spiltting that into street deals would increase the potential to £90,000. The quantities recovered were not consistent with personal use and it’s likely the defendant is well trusted part of an organised crime group.”

The court heard the defendant was interviewed on February 17 and made no comment to police. He later pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.

In mitigation, Nicci Horton said the defendant’s family back in Albania were reliant on him sending money back home. She said: “When he couldn’t find work he was unable to do that. He is not a trusted member of an organised crime group. He borrowed money and when they called it in he was unable to pay and found himself in the position of either paying or transporting cannabis.”

She said he accepts it was a “horrendously” bad choice and said he admitted the offence. Shahini of Ford Terrace, Chilton – but previously of Middlesbrough – was jailed for eight months.

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