Drug dealer jailed after being caught by Salford's anti-gang cops a second time after pursuit

A drug dealer from Salford who was caught by the city's anti-gang cops just months after being pursued in another chase where he was also detained has now been jailed for over two years.

Zach Trott (26), of Ellesmere Street, was sentenced yesterday (Wednesday 6 April) to two years and four months imprisonment after last month admitting two counts of dangerous driving, two counts of possession with intent to supply cannabis, and one count of money laundering.

Manchester Crown Court heard how a vehicle Trott was driving was being observed by officers on the suspicion of drug dealing when it entered a supermarket car park in Salford in March 2021.

When we engaged in a pursuit with Trott, he sped off and drove around two roundabouts in the wrong direction before reaching speeds of 70mph in a 30 zone and going through red lights.

After running away from the vehicle on Bolton Road, Trott was detained by chasing officers and found to have over £3,000's worth of cannabis on him as well as £500 in cash.

While the drugs were sent off for analysis and Trott released under investigation, officers from our dedicated operation disrupting organised crime in the city - codenamed Naseby - spotted him in the Eccles area of the city on 20 June 2021 driving a Ford Focus that smelt like cannabis was coming from it.

After a chase through Monton, we were able to sting the Ford and bring it to a halt on Half Edge Lane a short time later.

Trott again tried to give chase away from us - running through people's gardens in the process - but one of our dog unit patrols were able to sniff him out hiding outside a premise on nearby Sandwich Road.

Again, we found him with a substantial amount of cannabis that had been packaged in such a way that it appeared as though Trott was in possession of with the intent of supplying it.

On both occasions, Trott was accompanied by Jodie Klapisch (25), from Middleton, who told police after the first pursuit that she had only just met Trott on a dating app - before we uncovered her lie when we found her in his Ford Focus after the chase three months later.

Klapisch, of Mosedale Road, will be sentenced next month after admitting being concerned in the supply cannabis and money laundering, while Trott was yesterday sentenced to two years and four months.

The results are latest as part of Operation Naseby - which was introduced in April 2020 to disrupt organised crime in the city - that has now seen over 275 arrests made, almost 300 cars seized, nearly a quarter-of-a-million pounds recovered and close to 70 years' worth of custodial sentences imposed.

In that time, firearms discharges are down by over 70% and reports of knife crime has decreased in the last 12 months, and we are determined to continue to see this drastic trend maintained.

We've been able to conduct well over 100 house searches in the last year thanks to intelligence we have received from the public, and we continue to urge anyone with information or concerns to contact us online via LiveChat, if able, or by calling 101.

Details can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.