A drink driver who was also over the limit for cocaine sped off from police when they tried to pull him over on a main road.
Daniel Turley, who already had a past conviction for driving with excess alcohol, came to the attention of officers as he travelled down the Coast Road, in North Shields, in the early hours of the morning. However, when they tried to get the 37-year-old to stop, he put he refused and put his foot down, a court was told.
With the officers in pursuit, Turley travelled to Albion Road where his vehicle came to a "natural stop" and he was detained. The motor menace failed a roadside breath test, and later a drugs test, and was arrested, during which he was also found to be carrying a small amount of cocaine.
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Now, Turley, of Embleton Street, in Seaham, has been banned from the roads for three years after he pleaded guilty to two counts of driving above the drug limit, one driving with excess alcohol, one of failing to stop for a constable and one of possession of a class A drug.
Paul Anderson, prosecuting at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court, said police spotted Turley behind the wheel of his Vauxhall Insignia on the Coast Road at around 12.30am on April 23 this year. Mr Anderson continued: "The officers thought he was under the influence of drink or drugs so they put their lights on to stop him.
"There is a pursuit as he fails to stop. However, the defendant comes to a natural stop in a street called Albion Road. There's no indication of the length of the pursuit but Albion Road isn't far from the Coast Road."
The court heard that Turley gave a breath test reading of 85mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath when the legal limit is just 35mcg. A blood sample also revealed he was over the limit for cocaine and Benzoylecgonine (BZE), which is a breakdown product of cocaine.
Mr Anderson added: "As if matters couldn't get any worse for the defendant, he's also got a relevant past conviction from 2015."
Liz Dunbar, defending, said Turley had recently made significant improvements in his life, including moving out of the area to Seaham. Ms Dunbar continued: "He still drinks but only at weekends and he now doesn't take drugs. He has no longer got a car. He suffers from anxiety."
Turley was also given a 12-month community order and must pay a £95 victim surcharge.
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