A drugged up driver who led police on a chase in Norwich as he attempted to flee arrest has been spared jail after admitting multiple offences.
Mason Jones, 27, almost crashed into an unmarked police car at a junction on Quebec Road on New Year’s Eve.
It led to a pursuit involving several police cars before he dumped the Toyota Yaris but was later found hiding in bushes with the car keys.
Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told after failing a roadside drugs wipe, further tests had found he was eighteen times over the limit for MDMA - better known as ecstasy - and three times over for cocaine and cannabis.
READ MORE: Norwich man in court for driving while banned for THIRD time
Josephine Jones, prosecuting, said the car had belonged to his girlfriend and had been taken from outside her home without permission earlier in the evening.
He was already banned from driving at the time after being disqualified in September 2023 for a previous drug driving offence, she added.
Jones, of Ashbourne Tower in Norwich, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, taking without consent, failing to stop and drug driving.
He also admitted possession with intent to supply over a separate incident in May when he was found with a large quantity of herbal cannabis after being challenged by undercover police officers.
Analysis of his mobile phone had shown messages indicative of drug dealing, the court was told.
READ MORE: Norfolk disqualified driver caught back behind wheel in days
On another occasion in June he had also been arrested after attacking his girlfriend and smashing up her flat in a “paranoid rage”.
He admitted assault, threatening behaviour and criminal damage after slamming her leg in a door and had threatened to “smash up” her next door neighbour.
Julie Adams, mitigating, said he had drug dealing to fund his own habit and had been on a “downward spiral” resulting in bad decisions.
Magistrates suspended a 26 week jail sentence for two years and banned him from driving for four years and three months.
He was also ordered to pay compensation and told he would have to sit a driving re-test.
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