A “naïve and immature” drug dealer who tried to throw away hundreds of pounds worth of cannabis while being chased by police has been spared jail.

John Koso, 21, of Ramsons Avenue, Milton Keynes, was 19 years old when police caught him trying to dispose of 15 bags of cannabis on March 16, 2020.

At Aylesbury Crown Court today (Tuesday), Koso was sentenced to 75 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to a charge of possession with intent to supply cannabis.

The court heard how on the day of the offence, Koso was the passenger in a VW Golf, being driven by an accomplice.

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In Saxon Gate, Milton Keynes, at around 3.35pm, police attempted to stop the car, but the driver sped off, driving the wrong way around a roundabout in an attempt to escape the officers.

Following a short chase, the car stopped and Koso jumped out of the car, running away through shrubbery, where he dropped a black bag containing 15 packets of cannabis, weighing a total of 49 grams and with an estimated street value of £450.

Police arrested Koso and the driver and both men eventually pleaded guilty to a charge of possession with intent to supply cannabis.

Both men were due to be sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court today (Tuesday) but after the driver failed to attend court, Recorder Stan Reiz QC issued a warrant for his arrest.

At the hearing, the court heard from defence barrister Iwona Boesche how Koso, who did attend court, did not have a past criminal record and had acted with “naivety and immaturity” by getting caught up in a criminal enterprise.

Ms Boesche said that her client is studying for a degree at the University of Northampton and that he lives at home with his mother, adding that he “intends to make her proud in the future” by avoiding criminal activity.

Ms Boesche said: “He is sorry that he got involved, he feels very embarrassed in front of his mother.”

As well as sentencing him to unpaid work, Recorder Reiz QC also ordered Koso to pay £600 in costs and for the drugs to be forfeited and destroyed.