Uninsured Albanian driver led police on pursuit outside school

An uninsured Albanian motorist drove on a footpath and flouted the speed limit during a daytime police pursuit near a school.

Endi Serezi was behind the wheel of a Ford Transit van, which was not his, when an officer attempted to pull him over on Newcastle's West Road. 

However, the 25-year-old ignored the request, a police chase ensued with Serezi travelling above the 30mph limit, swerving across the road and braking hard at junctions near a school, a court heard.

The Albanian national then drove along a footpath before ditching the vehicle and trying to flee on foot.

Serezi, of Crawford Terrace, in Walker, was detained nearby and arrested. Now, he's avoided jail after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving with no insurance of otherwise than in accordance with a licence and failing to stop for a police constable.

Claire Armstrong, prosecuting at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, said an officer was on mobile patrol on a police motorbike at around 1pm on September 13 this year when he spotted Serezi in his van travelling towards the A1. 

He then tried to get him to pull over but Serezi instead accelerated.

Miss Armstrong continued: 'The defendant overtook several cars and did so in excess of the 30mph speed limit. 

'He continued driving at excess speed, travelling towards a school. At a junction, he then braked hard and swerved across the carriageway.

'He then drove on a footpath where his van was blocked by a fence. Both the defendant and his passenger then made off from the van on foot and a foot pursuit took place.'

The court heard that the officer managed to catch up with Serezi and he was arrested. 

Syed Ahmed, defending, said Serezi wasn't working in the UK and was living off his savings and his parents.

Mr Ahmed said Serezi's passenger was an immigrant and he 'panicked' when he saw the police. 

The solicitor added: 'He was put under considerable pressure by the passenger not to stop the vehicle. As a consequence, he drove in the manner he did.'

Giving Serezi a 24-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and banning him from the roads for a year, District Judge Paul Currer said: 'You are guilty of a serious offence of dangerous driving. Driving in the manner you did, you presented a danger to yourself and other road users.

'You drove in this way in a deliberate attempt to avoid the police. In a final, last-ditch attempt to avoid the police, you drove off the road and on to pavement, where you were later chased and, ultimately, arrested.'