Brave member of the public tried to stop drug dealer

A drug dealer who crashed his car and then assaulted a brave member of the public who tried to restrain him has been jailed.

Ruben Lopes Roque, 20, was seen driving erratically before crashing into two parked cars at Haddon Services, off the A1 (M), near Peterborough, at about 12.30pm on Saturday, 29 June.

He tried to run off and two people attempted to restrain him, but he grabbed a man by the throat and squeezed it.

Pictured: Ruben Lopes Roque, 20. 

When officers arrived, Lopes Roque said he was “going to kill” the man and woman who had tried to stop him.

He was arrested and punched an officer in the chest when he arrived at Thorpe Wood Police Station. 

In custody, he also declined to provide a specimen of breath and a search also uncovered more than 100 bags of heroin and crack cocaine. He was also found to have no licence and no insurance.

On Thursday (3 October), at Cambridge Crown Court, Lopes Roque, of Deene Court, Bretton, Peterborough, was jailed for two years and nine months, having pleaded guilty to escaping from lawful custody, possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, possession with intent to supply heroin, assault of an emergency worker, assault by beating, driving while disqualified, using threatening words with intent to cause fear of unlawful violence, failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis and driving without due care and attention.

DC Sam Egdell said: “Lopes Roque is clearly a violent and dangerous individual, who assaulted and threatened members of the public and assaulted an officer.

“It’s great he’s behind bars, as on top of all of this, he was found with lots of crack cocaine and heroin which was destined to be sold in Peterborough. We will continue to do all we can to disrupt the drugs network in the city.”

Anyone with information or concerns about drugs can report to police online via the force’s dedicated drugs information webpage.