Drug dealer threatened unarmed detective with knife during city chase
Detective Constable Gary Matthews was unarmed, except for a wooden stick, which broke when he tried to fend off Patricia Mitchell's knife.
Mitchell, who had been dealing heroin in the city, eventually gave herself up after a dog handler was drafted in.
The 49-year-old was jailed for four years at Exeter Crown Court after pleading guilty to possessing heroin with intent to supply, having an offensive weapon and possessing the proceeds of criminal conduct.
The court was told that after her arrest several small bags of heroin were discovered on her body and she had stuffed £3,076 of drugs cash into her underwear.
Prosecutor Ann Hampshire told the court Det Con Matthews and a colleague were called to Hoopern Valley, woodland near New North Road, St David's, on May 30. A group of people had been reported injecting heroin there, including Mitchell.
The court was told she had previously been deported back to Jamaica after being jailed for drug offences.
But she returned to Britain and had travelled from her home in London to deal heroin in Exeter.
When Det Con Matthews ran after her, she fled, waving an 8in knife which she threatened him with several times when he appeared to be catching up with her.
"Det Con Matthews later described his vulnerability," said Ms Hampshire. "He was not wearing a protective flak jacket, he had no CS gas spray nor did he have in that location an ability to use his radio to call for help."
The policeman shouted at Mitchell to stop, showing her his warrant card, but she fled, chased over a steep slope, through fields, past a waterfall, over a barbed wire fence and with them both sinking in mud.
She pointed the knife at his chest on several occasions, shouting threats including: "If you come near me, I will," and "I'll use it, I'll do it".
When Det Con Matthews had a mobile phone signal, he called 999 and kept a running commentary as he chased her.
Mitchell eventually ran into New North Road and onto a driveway, where a resident opened their front door for her until the policeman warned them.
"She was walking towards the detective, pointing the knife at him and he told her to drop it three times," said Ms Hampshire. "She refused and walked swiftly towards him with the knife held towards him. The officer held his stick ready to strike, thinking she might attack him."
Mitchell backed off but was still threatening him with the knife. As he tried to prod it away, his stick broke. Mitchell then fled across the car park of the Imperial pub, onto the Radio Devon premises nearby, and was arrested after the police dog was drafted in.
She produced 12 wraps of heroin, weighing around 3.5g, and the cash.
Defence counsel Sean Brunton said little was known about the defendant's background or her immigration status. She had been assessed as being a relatively unsophisticated criminal who was tempted into crime by those higher up the drugs chain.
She had responded with the knife in panic at being cornered, and was anxious to return to Jamaica where one of her children was ill.
Recorder Martin Meeke QC said text messages showed Mitchell had been making drug-dealing trips to Exeter.
Drug-dealer Patricia Mitchell
