Cocaine-fueled driver who sped off from police in Sunderland then tried to run away on foot 'has poor thinking skills'

Josh Burroughs, 25, drove in the opposite direction to an officer patrolling in Foxcover Lane, East Herrington, Sunderland, on Wednesday, April 14.

His suspicions were aroused and he spun around in pursuit of Burroughs, of Willows Close, Columbia, Washington – blue lights on and sirens wailing.

But the suspect, who was also uninsured and did not have a licence, put his foot down for around two miles at 12.45am.

Burroughs stopped in Mons Crescent, Shiney Row, and attempted to run away but was apprehended, magistrates in South Tyneside heard.

A test for drugs showed he was over the limit for benzoylecgonine, a cocaine breakdown product.

The court was told Burroughs had been banned from the roads on Thursday, September 3, for two years by Newcastle Crown Court for dangerous driving.

He was also given a nine-month sentence, suspended for two years, and a three-month 9pm to 6am curfew.

Jobless Burroughs has now been handed a further one-year ban for drug-driving, which will run alongside his existing disqualification.

Prosecutor Gurjot Kaur said: “The officer was in a marked car and saw a Vauxhall Corsa which made off at speed.

“Despite activating his blue lights and sirens, the Corsa continued to evade him.

“It went on the A182 at Herrington Burn and stopped in Mons Crescent, where he tried to make off but was detained.

“He was taken to South Shields police station where a sample showed BZE.

“Mr Burrough’s was the holder of a provisional licence but wasn’t showing L-plates and wasn’t accompanied, and he had no insurance.”

Neil Hodgson, defending, said: “He has poor thinking skills. There have been some issues with drug misuse as well.

“What he says is that he had taken the car out to get some petrol and had panicked when the police saw him.”

The drugs test showed a level of BZE greater than 200mcgs per litre of blood. The legal limit is 50mcgs.

Burroughs pleaded guilty to drug-driving, driving without insurance, driving without a licence and failing to stop.

He was fined £120 and must pay a £34 victim surcharge. There were no court costs.

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