A DANGEROUS driver has been banned from the roads after leading police on a high-speed pursuit while high on drugs.

Robert Kris Allan, 22, was spotted driving a silver Audi A4 out of a petrol station on Shields Road in Byker.

When he saw the officers, Allan began to drive the vehicle in an erratic manner as if trying to leave the area in a hurry.

That alerted the suspicions of police who signalled for the vehicle to stop, but Allan failed to comply.

He slammed his foot on the accelerator and led officers on a dangerous pursuit through the Byker and Heaton areas of Newcastle.

Allan drove the wrong way around roundabouts, sped through red lights and hit speeds of 80mph on 30mph roads.

Traffic officers deployed a stinger device on the Coast Road but the vehicle continued to drive towards High Heaton.

In a bid to evade capture he repeatedly rammed the side of a patrol car but his tyres were badly damaged.

After nearly losing control of the Audi, he brought it to a stop and was pounced upon by police and placed under arrest.

Police discovered he had recently bought the vehicle, had no insurance and was also driving above the legal limit for drugs.

Allan, of Weldon Crescent, Heaton, was charged with dangerous driving, driving without insurance, failing to stop and driving whilst above the legal drug limit.

He pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court and was given a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and a two-year driving ban.

PC Darren Lant said Allan was very lucky to have not caused a serious collision.

He said: “This was a ridiculous display of driving that has absolutely no place on our region’s roads.

“A number of road users had to take evasive action to avoid being involved in a collision with Robert Allan.

“He is very lucky that he did not cause a serious collision that resulted in severe injury to either himself or another member of the public.

“I am glad we have been able to take him off the roads and if he gets behind the wheel again he will be put behind bars.”