Cambridge: Violent Drug Dealer Jailed

20 November 2013, 10:28 | Updated: 20 November 2013, 10:30

A drug dealer who assaulted two police officers who tried to arrest him has been jailed for five years.

Cedric Mukendi, 30, attacked Sergeants Paul Street and Sean MacLoughlin after they had cornered him in a garden off Mill Road at 11.45pm on February 14.

Mukendi had run off from the two officers when they asked him to accompany them to the station following a routine stop search. He had ducked down an alleyway and smashed through a fence before assaulting both officers in a back garden.

Mukendi managed to throw away a package during the struggle before running off again. He was eventually chased down and arrested nearby.

Both officers required hospital treatment for their injuries.

The package was later recovered and found to contain crack cocaine with a street value of £1,370.

Mukendi, of Cator Street, Peckham, denied possessing a class A drug with intent to supply and two counts of assaulting a PC but was convicted following a trial. He was jailed for a total of five years at Cambridge Crown Court on November 8.

Detective Constable Julie Munday said: "Mukendi came up to Cambridge with the intention of dealing drugs. He is clearly a violent individual who thought nothing of attacking two officers who had rightly sought to arrest him.

"We will not tolerate the use and supply of drugs and will take robust action against anyone suspected of being involved in such criminality. This case also shows how seriously the court takes violence against officers and should serve as a warning to others."

DCI Neil Sloan said: "Sergeants Paul Street and Sean MacLoughlin showed great professionalism and bravery to chase after Mukendi and apprehend him despite the threat of violence towards them.

"Despite both officers sustaining injuries during the course of the arrest, they did not relent in their pursuit of the offender to ensure he was safely detained and that no members of the public were harmed.

"Thanks to their efforts a dangerous individual who had travelled to the city in order to supply crack cocaine is now behind bars for a considerable period of time."