An asylum seeker who led police on a dangerous city centre chase in his wife's Mercedes has walked free from court.
Safe Elfike, who fled to the UK after he was left needing brain surgery by attackers who kidnapped him in Egypt, had no licence or insurance to drive the car when he was spotted behind the wheel in Newcastle. A court heard he reached 65mph in a 30 zone, drove on the wrong side of the road, drove onto a crossing at a pedestrian access point and failed to give way at a junction before making a run for it and hiding in a disabled toilet.
The 27-year-old, of The Grove, Gosforth, was tracked down and arrested and pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. He has now been given a community order at Newcastle Crown Court.
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It was on May 14 this year that police officers in an unmarked vehicle saw him in a car which was only insured for its female owner - his partner - to drive. When he was approached, he drove off, sparking a chase.
Prosecutor Michael Bunch told the court: "The vehicle approached a junction and went on the wrong side of the road and failed to give way. The Mercedes then did a sharp, erratic U-turn and nearly collided with the police vehicle.
"Oncoming vehicles had to take evasive action and at George Street and Blandford Street he went through a set of bollards, entering a pedestrian crossing from the pedestrian access point. The red lights were on at the lights on St James' Boulevard and the vehicle then went through another red light before he abandoned the vehicle and ran off."
Elfike sought refuge in a disabled toilet of a nearby business but was found and arrested. He said he had been assaulted recently and initially thought it was people associated with that who were pursuing him but accepted he then became aware it was the police.
He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and having no licence or insurance. Recorder Mark Giuliani sentenced him to a 12 month community order with a 12 week curfew between 10pm and 6am and a 12 month driving ban.
Recorder Giuliani said: "You have a stable relationship and have performed an Islamic marriage to your partner, who sits in court today. The Supreme Court are hearing cases about whether it's lawful for an asylum seeker to have a marriage recognised by English law."
Brian Mark, defending, said Elfike is continuing to appeal against a refusal to grant him asylum here, adding: "He was kidnapped and attacked in Egypt and the attackers got 15 years prison with hard labour."
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