25 year old sent prison after high speed police chase from Aylesbury to London

The man has been jailed for dangerous driving and for possession of firearm in Aylesbury.

Edris Yusufi, aged 25, of Scotts Road, London, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment at Aylesbury Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to one count each of driving a motor vehicle dangerously and possession of firearm without a certificate.

At around 1.35pm on 24 November last year, plain clothed police officers from the Aylesbury Police team attempted to stop a vehicle being driven by Yusufi on New Street, Aylesbury, shortly after it had entered the town, however the vehicle was able to get away from the officers, and began to drive at speed along New Street.

A firearms officer immediately pursued the vehicle, which drove at pace and in and out of traffic around the town before heading towards London.

Despite Yusufi’s attempts to lose police, a National Police Air Service helicopter and Metropolitan Police officers joined the pursuit around west London.

At about 2.40pm, officers blocked the vehicle and forced it to stop on Bolingbroke Road, Hammersmith, before arresting Yusufi and a male passenger.

During a warrant at Yusufi’s home address, a converted 9mm self-loading pistol and 12 rounds of compatible ammunition loaded into a magazine were found in a carrier bag hidden in his wardrobe. Yusufi was charged on 25 November.

Detective Constable Laurie Twine, of the Stronghold Team, based at Aylesbury police station, said:

“It is only due to good fortune and the fast reactions of members of the public that no-one was seriously injured or killed as Yusufi drove extremely dangerously for over an hour to try and evade arrest.

“In London, when faced with a queue of congested traffic, he even turned off the road and drove along a footpath, forcing a dog walker to jump out of the way.

“Thankfully, the UK has one of the lowest levels of gun crime in the world, however, any handgun in the hands of people like Yusufi represent a grave threat to the public.

“I am pleased that the judge saw fit to apply the minimum sentence of five years, with an additional year for the driving offences.

“I want to thank the officers of Thames Valley Police’s Joint Operations Unit, the National Police Air Service, and the Metropolitan Police who were able to effectively and safely detain Yusufi.

“Especially the professionalism and skill of the officers from Thames Valley Police who pursued the vehicle all the way from Aylesbury to London, and without whom he would almost certainly have got away.”

The passenger in the vehicle, Wilson Santos, aged 24, of Mackenzie Close, London, was charged with possession of a knife.

He pleaded guilty at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on 26 November and was sentenced to six months in jail.