Three childhood friends, who turned to cocaine dealing and were caught with £178,000 worth of the drug during an undercover police operation, have been caged.
The trio splashed out on hiring luxury vehicles and buying expensive jewellery and a five-star celebratory vacation, due to start the next day, was ruined by their capture.
Roofer Mark Boorman, 24, (pic.top) of Laurel Crescent, Romford and Toby Kallar, 26, (pic.mid.) of Airthrie Road, Ilford were convicted of conspiring to supply cocaine on or before July 19, last year and were each sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
Daniel Skurr, 24, (pic.bottom) of Hornchurch Road, Hornchurch pleaded guilty to the charge, plus driving a VW van dangerously and while disqualified in Rush Green Road, Romford and received five years and four months.
Croydon Crown Court heard Boorman, despite having no obvious means of income, splurged on a Paris holiday and a £2,000 diamond engagement ring for his fiancé and Kallar had spent £6,000 on hiring flash cars, won £18,000 gambling and paid £6,000 cash for the planned two-week vacation.
The Serious Organised Crime Agency watched Little Gerpins Lane, Upminster, where Kallar was sitting in his parked Vauxhall Astra.
"It is a remote location. There is nothing there other than some bins, it is a quiet country lane," said prosecutor Miss Susana Stevens.
The vehicle was followed to Suttons Avenue, Hornchurch, where Skurr got out and chatted to another man.
All three defendants returned to the Little Gerpins Lane location, Skurr now driving a van and Boorman his Mercedes.
They set off "in convoy" and were stopped by police several miles away.
"Skurr accelerated hard and mounted the pavement and there is a police chase," explained Miss Stevens. "Skurr abandoned the van and was stopped and arrested on foot."
In the van police found one kilo of cocaine of 89% purity.
"The police officers drew their batons and approached Kallar as if they were going to smash his windscreen and ordered him to get out of his car.
"Boorman also mounted the pavement and tried to follow Skurr, but the police were too quick.
"They hammered on the front passenger-side window and he stopped the car and was arrested," added Miss Stevens.
Officers then searched the defendants homes and recovered "cash and luxuries."
"These three defendants were involved in and had been for some time in the supply of drugs, with all three of them working together.
"They stood to make a substantial financial gain and must have been close to the source because of the extremely high purity of the cocaine.
"They funded their lifestyle through the supply of drugs for some time.'
Judge Nicholas Ainley told the trio: "When you were all arrested, you Boorman and Kallar did what the police wanted, but you Skurr drove off and tried to escape and you could have killed two police officers.
"They had to jump out of the way to avoid a collision and Skurr was driving while disqualified for a drink-drive offence.
"You were all recruited by someone higher up and you were entrusted with the transfer of a kilo of cocaine of eighty-nine per cent purity."
Skurr's lawyer Miss Karina Arden told the court: "He panicked, knowing what the situation was. That is the reason for the driving and the trying to get away.
"He is full of regret as to how he has let his family down enormously. He comes from a nice family."
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