A Sunderland man drove at speeds in excess of 70mph in a residential area to escape police during a 15 minute chase.
Alex Breeze, 22, travelled down the B1284 in the Hetton-le-Hole area and drove the wrong way around a roundabout during the incident on May 17 this year.
Breeze, of Longfellow Street, Houghton-le-Spring, eventually came to a stop after entering a dead end.
Durham Crown Court heard Breeze then tried to make off on foot but was caught by officers.
Breeze, who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, was given an eight month suspended sentence.
Judge Singh said an unmarked police car was suspicious about Breeze’s behaviour on May 17 this year and put on its flashing lights.
He added: “They put on their lights and you decided you didn’t want to stop. This resulted in a pursuit that lasted about 15 minutes.
“During that pursuit you drove through residential areas of 30mph at a speed in excess of 70mph.
“Ultimately it came to an end, at that point you left the vehicle and ran away.”
Breeze, who was disqualified from driving and ordered to pay £250 toward court costs, was caught by officers who carried out a search and found a “small amount” of cocaine on him.
Breeze was spared jail after the court heard that his job at Kwik Fit would still be available and not involve driving.
