The moment a car chase driver goaded police because he was 'angry at David Cameron'

Waseem Chaudry was caught on CCTV driving along the public footpath on Ocean Road, South Shields, before going through red lights, driving in bus lanes and travelling on the wrong side of the road through the town centre.

The 45-year-old, who was high on cannabis, failed to stop at a zebra crossing on Stanhope Road, forced other drivers to veer out of his way and drove with his torso hanging out of the window so he could gesture at the police who were in pursuit.

His vehicle was eventually brought to a stop when officers boxed him in near West Road with their vehicles.

Prosecutor Michael Bunch told Newcastle Crown Court Chaudry, of St Vincent Street, South Shields, admitted in interview he was "angry that day with the Prime Minister" and was driving around in his car and just flipped".

In court, he admitted dangerous driving and drug impaired driving.

Mr Bunch told the court Chaudry's car was first captured on CCTV on October 7 last year when he brought it to a standstill on the pavement on Ocean Road.

The footage, which was played in court, shows him driving through a red light onto Anderson Street and heading left along to the seafront, where he zig zagged

from one side of the road to the other.

He then headed back to Ocean Road, where he travelled through back lanes before driving up to Westoe Road and on to Chichester Road, with the police in

pursuit.

Mr Bunch said: "He was repeatedly veering into the the wrong side of the road.

"The defendant was reaching out of the driver's window, making V signs back to the officers.

"At times his full torso was out of the window, looking back to the police vehicles."

The court heard Chaudry drove straight over a zebra crossing onto Stanhope Road and kept "veering onto the wrong side of the road".

Mr Bunch added: "Oncoming motorists were pulling in to avoid collision."

The court heard Chaudry, who was more than three times the limit for driving under the influence of cannabis, was sectioned under the mental health act when the chase came to an end.

Vic Laffey, defending, said: "It was extremely bizarre behaviour, it has to be accepted.

"It was more by luck than good judgement that no-one was actually hurt. He appears to have become agitated by something he saw on television, something to do with employment problems in this area. Tthat caused him to react in the way we have seen."

Mr Laffey said Chaudry had been diagnosed as bi-polar around two years ago and has now got his medication under control and has a good job.

Mr Recorder John Aitken sentenced Chaudry to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with a two year driving ban and £400 costs.

The judge told him: "You behaved in the most bizarre fashion. You caused a good deal of risk to everyone. Fortunately you did not cause injury or damage but just by looking at that video you can see how close you came on a number of occasions. The offence was committed because you failed to take your medication."