Helicopter footage shows dramatic police pursuit through Newcastle

Dramatic footage from a police helicopter has been released of a dangerous driver trying to evade officers.

Northumbria Police said Wayne Young, 29, was jailed at Newcastle Crown Court after ‘some of the worst driving’ officers have seen.

Footage from the National Police Air Service showed Young racing through the west end of Newcastle, speeding along back alleys in an attempt to escape traffic cars.

At one point he collides with a police car whose driver is trying to stop him, but carries on after the bump before finally being stopped some minutes later.

It was soon too risky for police to follow but he was seen 10 minutes later in the Silverlink area of North Tyneside.

Young topped speeds of 80mph in a 30mph zone while driving on the wrong side of the road and failing to give way on roundabouts.

Young was finally stopped by police on a residential street in the Fenham area of Newcastle after officers were directed by the police helicopter.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified and without insurance and was sentenced on Wednesday.

Young, of Tebay Drive, Slatyford, Newcastle, was jailed for two years and banned from the roads for six years.

He said: “Wayne Young already had a string of driving offences to his name when he was spotted behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle.

“What followed was some of the worst driving our traffic officers have ever come across and it is just through sheer luck that nobody was killed.

“This is not something that is acceptable on our roads and Wayne Young put lives at risk through his behaviour that day.

“Not only could he have killed himself but he could have killed a police officer or an innocent member of the public.”