This is the moment a danger driver who filmed police chasing him was brought to a dramatic halt.
Samuel Birch was on his way to a job interview when failed to stop for officers in the West End of Newcastle, sparking a dangerous pursuit during which he ran a series of red lights.
In dash cam footage, he can be seen holding his phone out of the car window and one of the police officers speculates that he may be live-streaming the chase.
Birch then makes a foul-mouthed 999 call to police, falsely claiming to have a child in the car and saying he will drive off a bridge if they don't abort the pursuit.
As he heads into the city centre near St James' Park, police decided it was too risky to let him continue and so executed a tactical stop by ramming his Vauxhall Corsa, causing it to spin around.
Newcastle Crown Court heard it was on Sunday March 29 this year just after 3pm that officers' attention was drawn to the speeding silver Corsa.
They indicated for it to stop with blue lights and sirens but Birch kept going, through residential areas, often above the speed limit.
Peter Schofield, prosecuting, said: "From the vehicle the defendant was seen to be moving his mobile phone out through the driver's side window.
"It was thought to be a situation where he was filming what was taking place in respect of the pursuit.
"It seems he made a malicious call to the police while driving to the effect he had in the vehicle a minor. They were told the pursuit should stop or he would drive the vehicle off a bridge with the minor.
"There is an audio recording indicating he was very angry and aggressive in respect of this threat."
Police were able to see he was the only person in the car and trained pursuit officers took over near what used to be Newcastle General Hospital.
As Birch entered the city centre, going past St James' Park, it was decided to carry out the tactical stop due to the risk he posed.
The 30-year-old, of Redheugh Court, Gateshead, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop and making a malicious communication.
Recorder Alex Menary said his speed had not been grossly excessive but he had gone through four red lights.
The judge said he was lucky it happened during lockdown, meaning the roads were quieter than usual.
But he added: "This was a pursuit which went on for some time and put other road users and pedestrians at significant risk. The consequences, had a pedestrian been using those traffic lights, does not bear thinking about."
Recorder Menary said Birch, who was on a community order at the time, "seems genuinely remorseful", has written a letter of apology and said he believes "there are signs you might finally be growing up".
The judge deferred sentence for six months to give Birch a chance to keep out of trouble and if he does, he will not go to prison. He replied: "Thanks for the chance."
Rachel Hedworth, defending, said: "He is extremely sorry about what took place.
"He is at a complete loss to explain what came over him on that day."
Miss Hedworth said Birch was at a low ebb at the time after domestic issues with his ex and he panicked when he realised the police were chasing him.
She added that he suffers from depression, anxiety and other mental health issues.
He had worked as a plant operator on machinery but lost his job as a result of the pandemic and was on his way to a job interview when the chase happened, Miss Hedworth said.
