POLICE tailed an alleged drug dealer in a high speed chase through city streets at speeds at up to 80 miles an hour.

Video from a police footage watched by jurors showed a car driven by a defendant on trial for an alleged massive conspiracy to supply drugs in Hampshire.

The car is alleged to have sped off after police tried to pull it over.

Southampton Crown Court heard how the driver of the vehicle was later identified as Gerrard Quinn.

Quinn, along with Paul Williams, Pedro Ibanez-Sanchez, Sophia Jones and Luke Nicholson are accused of being part of a conspiracy to supply drugs principally in Southampton, Winchester and Brighton.

Southampton Crown Court has heard how the prosecution alleges cocaine and heroin was transported down to the south coast from Manchester by train, car and post and money made was brought back to Manchester or paid into accounts and withdrawn there.

As reported, prosecutors say the operation was run by a gang called the Manchester Boys or the Mancs, which between July 2013 and January last year they say was involved in dealing almost seven kilograms of drugs with an estimated street value of £676,000.

Police car driver PC Neil Molloy, of Greater Manchester Police, described in a statement read out how just after midnight on December 14 2013 a black Volkswagen Golf came to their attention in the northern city.

This car the prosecution say was hired by a drug user in Southampton on behalf of the gang.

PC Molloy activated lights, then, when the driver did not react, sirens.

"It was then obvious to me that the driver was not going to stop," he said.

He said at one point the vehicle reached a speed of 80 miles an hour on a 30 mile an hour road, was at times was on the wrong side of the road and went through three red lights at junctions.

Police used a stinger across the road, which punctured a front tyre.

The court heard how the pursuing police car then rammed the Golf's passenger side as it tried to turn around at a roundabout which brought the chase to an end.

Officers stated the driver then ran but was caught quickly by a police dog.

Police dog handler PC Mark Kay said in a statement how as he arrested Quinn he said "I wasn't going to stop under any circumstances, I'm not going back to prison".

He was then told Quinn had been disqualified from driving.

A search of the car found two woolly hats, several black gloves and an Avis rental agreement.

PC Molloy's statement added: "It was by luck that no collisions occurred."

Quinn, 24, of Kilton Walk, Manchester, Williams, 25, of Piccard Close, Manchester, Jones, 29, of Sykeside Court, Rossendale, Lancashire, Ibanez-Sanchez, 24, of Wallwork Street, Manchester, and Nicholson, 28, of Chiddingly Close, Brighton, are all accused of conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply heroin.

Quinn and Ibanez-Sanchez also face a charge of money laundering.

They all deny the charges.

Proceeding