Drug dealer staggers out of car after leading police on 'ludicrous' 139mph chase on M56

A drug dealer was seen surrendering to police after leading officers on a 139mph chase along the M56 before crashing his BMW near Warrington.

Maredudd Francis, 31, drove at high-speed during the 'ludicrous' motorway pursuit towards Manchester before he smashed into another vehicle.

The incident unfolded on September 29 last year, when a Cheshire Police officer attempted to stop the grey BMW 325 on the M56 that was being driven by Francis, whose partner was also in the passenger seat.

The BMW had been travelling from the north Wales area and was believed to be linked to the supply of illegal drugs. The officer signalled to the vehicle to follow them off the motorway at junction 11 for Daresbury, Cheshire Police said.

Francis initially complied, following the patrol car up the slip road before rapidly accelerated onto a traffic island, narrowly missing a HGV, and re-joining the motorway. A pursuit commenced along the motorway, where speeds of up to 139mph were reached as the BWM weaved between traffic.

Small white packages were also seen being thrown out of the passenger-side window during the chase, a court heard.

The chase came to a conclusion at junction 10 for Stretton, when the BMW left the motorway via the slip road, went through a red light and onto a traffic island where it collided with a Toyota Hilux. Neither occupants sustained serious injuries.

Police dashcam footage showed Francis, who previously captained a Welsh rugby union team, staggering out of the crushed car and surrendering to police with his arms up.

An officer is heard saying to him: "I'll go through a drug wipe with you because you stink of cannabis" before he was arrested for dangerous driving.

Francis was then further arrested on suspicion of