Sunderland Land Rover driver caught hiding in bush from police after incident

Jack Fleury, 24, ran from police and hid in a bush after he clocked them watching as he stepped from a Land Rover Discovery.

One officer chased and caught Fleury, of Watford Close, Witherwack, while another searched his car and found cocaine, a court heard.

Prosecutor Paul Coulson revealed the offender was disqualified from the roads for 18 months for drink driving in September 2020.

And he was handed a minimum 36-month ban in June – under the two strikes in 10-years rule - after repeating the offence.

At South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, he pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, possession of cocaine and driving without insurance on Friday, September 27.

His catalogue of serious motoring crimes led District Judge Zoe Passfield to order an all-options report – putting jail on the table.

Mr Coulson said: “At 11am, officers saw a vehicle of interest driving past Fern Avenue. It was linked to a disqualified driver.

“They turned their vehicle around and followed from a distance. It came to a stop in parking bays on Wiltshire Road.

“As the vehicle pulled up, they watched the driver’s door open, and this defendant got out.

“He took one glance at the police vehicle and ran off towards Fulwell Quarry. An officer ran after him, and another searched his car.

“He searched and white powder was identified. Mr Fleury was found hiding in undergrowth.

“The white powder was field tested and found to be cocaine.

“It’s high culpability because he was driving shortly after a disqualification period was imposed. It’s up to 12 weeks custody.”

Syed Ahmed, defending, said Fleury had been heavily impacted by the sudden death of his father, leaving him in charge of a landscaping business.

Mr Ahmed added: “There seems to be some underlying issues regarding mental health. He says he has been all over the place.

“He started to take cocaine, that’s why it was found in the vehicle. There seems to be some underlying issue with alcohol.”

Judge Passfield granted Fleury unconditional bail to be sentenced at the same court on Wednesday, January 15.