An uninsured teenage driver tried to outrun police in a Nissan Micra while his pregnant girlfriend was in the passenger seat in a shocking car chase caught on camera.
Jordan Archer, 18, sped away from officers at more than twice the speed limit with the 18-year-old girl as he raced across North Tyneside and North Shields.
He was spotted leaving the Asda car park in Cowpen, Blyth, with his headlights off and took police on a lengthy pursuit when they tried to stop him.
Dash-cam footage captured his shocking driving before he was rammed to a stop by officers on Norham Road in North Shields.
Jordan Archer (right), 18, sped away from officers (left) at more than twice the speed limit with the 18-year-old girl as he raced across North Tyneside and North Shields
His antics required a police helicopter to help locate and stop the vehicle without causing any serious injury to other motorists.
It came four days after Archer had driven in another car chase that police had to pull out of it on safety grounds, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
That pursuit happened around the Broadway roundabout area of the town – a built-up residential area.
He was in the same area in blue Micra again at 7.20pm on February 8 when he tried to flee police for the second time.
He was spotted leaving the Asda car park in Cowpen, Blyth, with his headlights off and took police on a lengthy pursuit (pictured) when they tried to stop him
His antics required a police helicopter (pictured, a view from the chopper) to help locate and stop the vehicle without causing any serious injury to other motorists
Kevin Wardlaw, prosecuting, said: ‘The defendant made off when he became aware of the police car behind him and he drove at 70mph in a 30 zone.
‘He switched off his headlights and there was other traffic in the area, which is a residential, built up area with commercial premises.’
The officers aborted the pursuit at that point but the blue Micra was spotted again around 8pm.
Attempts to pull over Archer at that stage sparked the lengthy chase from Blyth to North Shields, which Mr Wardlaw estimated went on for 16 miles.
Mr Wardlaw said: ‘At various times the defendant drove on the wrong side of the road, went through red lights, entered roundabouts at speed.
Archer was in the blue Micra at 7.20pm on February 8 when he tried to flee police for the second time in days
‘At one point he went the wrong way around a roundabout, causing another vehicle to take evasive action.
‘He went through a red light, almost causing a collision with a pedestrian.’
The court heard Archer, who also had a man in the backseat, switched his lights off again, causing other vehicles to flash their lights and take evasive action.
He also took a junction on the wrong side of the road, creating a risk of collision, the court was told.
At one point the backseat passenger started shining a light at the pursuing police car to try to distract them.
Archer did a U-turn near Bugatti House, on Norham Road, where police moved in to do a ‘tactical stop’ – two cars deliberately hitting him to bring him to a halt.
Mr Wardlaw said they took that action ‘such was their concern for the safety of other road users’.
The court heard Archer, who also had a man in the backseat, switched his lights off again, causing other vehicles to flash their lights and take evasive action
He added: ‘It was a prolonged chase involving a complete disregard for other road users.’
Archer, from Blyth, pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving, having no insurance and driving otherwise in accordance with a licence, reflecting his driving on the two different days.
He also admitted having a small amount of cannabis on the second occasion.
Shaun Routledge, defending, said Archer has never been to custody before being remanded for these offences.
He said he has ADHD and went to a specialised school, which Mr Routledge said might partly explain why he ‘panicked’ and drove as he did.
He added: ‘I accept the driving is very poor indeed. He didn’t have the best upbringing in life.’
Judge Julie Clemitson said: ‘These offences are extremely serious.
‘You showed a complete disregard for the rules in relations to driving. I will need some persuading you will abide by a non-custodial sentence.’
She adjourned sentencing until May 12 and Archer was remanded in custody.