A man has been warned he could face prison in the future after escaping from a police van.

Thomas Martin, 20, of Mainsforth Terrace West, Sunderland, admitted escaping from custody after being arrested and handcuffed when police searched a house for stolen property, on December 5, last year.

He was fined £100 at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday after the court heard he was not prosecuted in relation to any property in the house.

A further charge of theft of handcuffs was left to lie on the file.