A SUSPECTED drug driver who took police on a high-speed chase through residential areas came to a shuddering halt when he crashed into a parked taxi.

Aidan Luft was tearing around the streets of Middlesbrough town centre in the Toyota Celica in the early hours when he was spotted by police responding to a call to trace a suspected stolen car.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 24-year-old attempted to flee after officers switched on their blue lights to pull him over.

Jenny Haigh, prosecuting, said the defendant reached speeds of up to 60mph and he tore around the streets trying to avoid capture in the early hours of May 14 last year.

She said initially Luft was charged with aggravated vehicle taking but a review of the evidence resulted in the charge being lowered to dangerous driving and driving without insurance.

Miss Haigh said the alarm was raised when the owner of car discovered his car had gone missing after his keys went missing from his jacket while he was at an address in Middlesbrough.

Luft was spotted in the North Ormesby area before speeding into the town centre and taking police through twisting and winding residential areas where he ignored red lights and drove over a grass embankment.

The court heard how Luft lost control of the car on Abingdon Road before attempting to run away from the scene after ploughing into the taxi.

A subsequent drug test showed the 24-year-old was above the legal limit for cannabis but confirmed that the defendant was not charged with that offence.

Luft, of Peirse Close, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without insurance following the incident.

In mitigation, John Nixon said his client was trying to rebuild his life and develop his relationship with his young child.

Judge Deborah Sherwin said: “The dangerous driving happened when you fled the police, it was a fairly lengthy chase, when you were watching on the screen, through a residential area of Middlesbrough at speeds far exceeding what the speed limit was.

“Fortunately for you, because of the time of night it was, the traffic on the roads was light.”

Luft was sentenced to six months in custody, suspended for two years. He was also banned from driving for two years and ordered to carry out 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.