Cops’ slow-speed chase to catch alleged drug dealer on e-scooter

By Adam Dutton

This is the comical moment a drug dealer crashed after leading cops on a low-speed chase on a 20mph e-scooter.

Two officers were patrolling on electric bikes when they spotted Graham McCarthy, 43, riding the scooter.

McCarthy - believed to have links to drug dealers - was holding a roll-up cigarette as he was followed by the cops.

For the next 10 minutes he refused to pull over and repeatedly swore at officers as he weaved in and out of traffic and pedestrians near Nottingham city centre.

During the chase McCarthy ran a red light and drove straight towards a bus, causing the vehicle to brake.

McCarthy was finally caught when he lost control near the junction with Lower Parliament street as he attempted to overtake a bus.

After tumbling to the ground McCarthy was arrested.

Bodycam video shows him blaming the officers for making him crash.

He tells one: “You made me come off in the street in front of everyone.

“Don’t chase me. You chase me for like two miles.”

He later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving without a licence.

McCarthy, of Nottingham, also admitted criminal damage after repeatedly banging his head against the inside of a police van.

He also pleaded guilty of possessing Class B drugs with intent to supply after being caught in possession of synthetic cannabinoids in May 2024.

McCarthy was jailed for one year and five months at Nottingham Crown Court and banned from driving for 19 months.

PC Elizabeth Shone, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was certainly a lot slower than the average police pursuit, but McCarthy certainly put himself and others in danger during this incident.

“He had multiple opportunities to stop and be dealt with at the side of the road, but chose instead to greatly increase the seriousness of his offending by leading us on this lengthy pursuit.

“Fortunately, he avoided serious injury during the subsequent crash, which very clearly shows the inherent dangers of attempting to ride these devices at such high speed.

“As McCarthy has now discovered, Private e-scooters are treated in the same way as any other mechanically propelled vehicles when offences of this nature are committed.”