A RECOVERING heroin addict who drove dangerously when he was approached by police appeared in court yesterday.

Andrew Sewell was spotted by officers on January 22 last year in a car at a set of traffic lights in Hartlepool.

Teesside Crown Court said police became suspicious of the defendant and got out of their vehicle to talk to him.

The 27-year-old then reversed his car at speed along Raby Road.

Nigel Soppitt, prosecuting, said: "He was driving at some speed. The officers recall there was smoke from the tyres of the Metro car."

The police officers drove in front of the car, but Sewell reversed back along the road until he eventually came to a halt.

Paul Cleasby, for Sewell, who admitted dangerous driving, said his client was on drugs at the time of the offences, but was now recovering.

He said: "The incident was short in duration. There was no damage, no injuries."

Sewell, of Telford Close, Hartlepool, was given a community punishment order for 12 months and disqualified from driving for two years.