SHAME SHAME
FORTY FIVE MONTHS’ JAIL FOR WARRINGTON CABBIE CAUGHT WITH DRUGS WORTH OVER £250K
Cabbie Alex Verdin, 29, turned drug courier to pay off a cocaine debt has been jailed after leading police on a dangerous late-night chase and dumping packages of drugs in residential gardens. He was caught with more than £250,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis after attempting to flee from officers in St Helens. Liverpool Crown Court heard that police tried to stop Verdin’s cab near Collins Green at 11pm on October 12, after it was driven through a road closure caused by a collision. Instead of stopping, Verdin sped away, driving dangerously, reaching excessive speeds and running a red traffic light “with no consideration for other road users”. Recorder Gavin McBride told him:
“Fortunately for you, no other road users were out as it was late at night, and there was no injury or harm to others that could have been so readily caused.”
The pursuit ended in Sutton Leach, where Verdin abandoned the vehicle and ran off on foot. An officer saw him throw packages into nearby gardens before he was detained. The discarded packages were
recovered and found to
contain cocaine. A search of the taxi revealed 27 vacuum-sealed packages of cannabis. Police also searched Verdin’s home in Warrington and seized around £2,000 in cash.
In total, officers recovered 12.2kg of cannabis with a wholesale value of up to £81,000 and a potential street value of more than £180,000. Around 1kg of high-purity cocaine, valued at up to £99,500 at street level, was also seized. Verdin admitted dangerous driving and possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis. Defending, Matthew O’Neill said Verdin was a hard-working taxi driver who was not living a lavish lifestyle and had become addicted to cocaine, using it daily. Verdin, who appeared via video link from HM Prison Liverpool, was sentenced to 45 months in prison. He was also banned from driving for 12 months on release and must pass an extended driving test before driving again.
BLACKBURN UBER DRIVER BANNED AFTER DRINK DRIVING CRASH WITH PASSENGERS ONBOARD
An Uber driver who crashed his car while carrying passengers was more than double the legal drink- drive limit, a court has heard. Blackburn Magistrates’ Court was told the car driven by Faizan Anjum collided with a road barrier while travelling from Darwen towards Bolton, causing the airbags to deploy. A police officer who attended the scene said it was fortunate the vehicle struck the barrier, warning that without it the crash could have been fatal. Anjum, 33, from Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drink.
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The court heard two women had booked the Uber through the app and were picked up at around 4.15am. Prosecutor Glenn Anderson said the passengers, who were sitting in the rear of the vehicle, initially described the driver as appearing normal. “The next thing they knew, the taxi had crashed,” Mr Anderson said. “The airbags were activated and the seatbelts caused bruising to both passengers.” Police carried out a roadside breath test, which showed Anjum had 87 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – more than double the legal limit of 35mcg. He
admitted drinking alcohol before driving.
Mr Anderson said Anjum was taken to hospital following the crash and by the time blood samples were taken, the reading had fallen below the legal limit. Sentencing Anjum, Deputy District Judge Wajid Khalil said it was fortunate nobody suffered more serious injuries. Anjum, who was unrepresented and has a previous alcohol-related driving conviction from 2016, apologised to the court. He was banned from driving for 36 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £114 victim charge.
JANUARY 2026 PHTM
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