Drink-driver caught after fleeing car

A Washington man fled through the passenger door of his car in a bid to escape police who stopped him on suspicion of drink-driving, a court heard.

Adam Young, 20, of Stockley Road, Barmston, was caught before getting far on Monday, December 9, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard.

When breathalysed, he was found to have 60 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

He pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving without a licence, and driving without insurance – and was banned by the magistrates from driving for 17 months.

The court was told there was no reason for Young to be driving while over the limit and he was ‘given the key by someone else’.

Prosecutor Paul Anderson said: “Police were suspicious about a potential drink-driver and came up behind this vehicle at traffic lights. They follow it.

“It’s being driven in an erratic fashion, moving from side to side. He runs from the vehicle. There is a very short chase.” The court heard Young, who was driving a 2003 Fiat Punto, was already subject to a twoyear suspended prison sentence when he committed the offence in Springwell Road, Gateshead.

Sandra Fife, defending, said: “He can’t put before the court a reason for driving. He was given the key by someone else.”

For the drink-drive charge, Young was also fined £120 and must pay £85 court costs and a £32 victim surcharge. There was no separate penalty for the other two offences.