A CONVICTED drug dealer, who was saved by heroic police officers after driving a stolen car into Carr Mill Dam during a high speed chase, has been jailed.

Tighe, of Old Dover Road, Roby, who had pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to dangerous driving and handling stolen goods, was sentenced to 12 months and disqualified from driving for three and a half years.

The court heard on November 21 last year, officers spotted a stolen white Audi TT near Bowring Park Golf Course, Huyton.

Tighe sped off, leading to a pursuit up the M62 through Winwick and Newton-le-Willows.

He drove along the East Lancashire Road towards the Waterside pub and into the water.

Tighe screamed for help as the car began to sink and five officers entered the freezing water, managing to open the car and drag him out just in time.

Tighe was previously part of a gang who sourced £1.7m of import grade cocaine and trafficked it around the UK and was jailed for eight years in December 2012 after admitting conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. He has been recalled on licence.

Judge, recorder John Barrett, said Tighe knew the £15,000 car, taken in a burglary in West Yorkshire, was probably stolen.

He said: “One of the matters that is immediately apparent in this case is the contrast between the extraordinary driving skill of the police officers seen on the video, compared with your dangerous driving.

“Anybody turning towards your path in the normal course of driving was exposed to significant risk of injury or death.

“Having in a barefaced attempt to avoid the police officers driven into a body of water and found yourself at risk of death as your car was sinking, these same officers – who when chasing you at high speeds were at great risk – showed the highest degree of heroism, entered the water and rescued you.”