Father and son jailed after drugs found in BMW

A father and son have been jailed after police found more than £47,000 worth of amphetamine in a BMW which was abandoned after a high speed chase.



Ronald Francis Murray Senior and Ronald Francis Murray Junior both pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to conspiring to supply the drug.

Murray Sr, a 51-year-old of Wilsons Lane, Longford, was jailed for a total of fours years after also admitting conspiring to supply cocaine.

Murray Jr, a 30-year-old of Taunton Way, Keresley, was jailed for two years and four months after also admitting dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

Darryl McGuire, a 27-year-old of Raynor Crescent, Bedworth, was jailed for nine months after admitting perverting the course of justice by claiming he was behind the wheel of the BMW when it was chased.

The court heard police officers spotted the BMW in Westbury Road, Nuneaton on May 10, 2010. Murray Jr, who was behind the wheel, reversed when he spotted the officers, and sped off when the officers put on the patrol car's blue lights.

During a near five mile chase, Murray Jr reached speeds of up to 90 mph before abandoning the car. Inside, officers found a holdall containing five vacuum-packed plastic bags. The bags contained amphetamine with a street value of £47,550. The car's key fob had a photo of Murray Jr on it.

The following day Murray Jr's partner, 27-year-old Lerice Willden, also of Taunton Way, reported the car stolen. She was given a 12-month conditional discharge for obstructing the police.

When the police arrested Murray Jr a few days later, four new mobile phones, £665 in cash and an expensive watch were found at his home.

He maintained the car had been stolen and he had been at home at the time of the chase, but his phone records failed to back up his story.

When his father’s home was raided officers searched a laundry room and found disposable gloves, a vacuum-packing machine and a bucket, which all had traces of amphetamine and cocaine.

Forensic tests showed the packages found in the BMW had been prepared there, she pointed out.

In July, McGuire handed himself in to police, claiming he had been driving during the chase.

But during interviews in August, Murray Jr said he had been paid £500 to pick up and drop off the amphetamine, while McGuire admitted lying about driving the car.

Before sentencing, the court heard Murray Sr has been jailed for four years 20 years ago for possessing cannabis with intent to supply.