A young motorist who sped off when police were called after a resident spotted him rolling in the road while drunk has walked free from court.

Jordan Laing’s bid to escape the pursuing police vehicle came to an end when he lost control of his Vauxhall Corsa on the Fishponds roundabout, near Redcar, and crashed.

Officers were concerned about any injuries the 23-year-old may have suffered and called an ambulance while they accompanied him to hospital.

While at hospital, Laing tried to spit in the face of one of the officers, hitting his neck, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Nigel Soppitt, prosecuting, said the defendant reached speeds of 60mph in a 30 zone after he sped away from Ryehills Close, Redcar, and headed towards the A174 at around 2am on March 18 this year.

“He was seen to get into the car and drive down the road in an erratic manner,” he said.

“Officers saw the defendant driving at speed, they activated their lights to cause him to stop – he failed to stop at that time.

“The dangerous driving happened as he was driving at 60mph in a 30mph zone and at one point reached 70mph on the A174.”

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The court heard how Laing was just below the drink driving limit when he was breathalysed nine hours after he crashed his car on the roundabout.

Laing, of School Close, Redcar, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop, and assault on an emergency worker.

John Nixon, mitigating, said his client was in emotional turmoil at the time of the incident as his long-term relationship had just come to an end.

He added: “He accepts that the starting point today is a custodial sentence. However, he had little recollection of what happened.”

Recorder Marco Giuliani sentenced Laing to a two-year community order and banned him from driving for a year.

He said: “You were seen lying in the road next to your car and for some reason, which is unclear due to your drunkenness, you got in your car and drove away.”

Laing was also ordered to abstain from alcohol for 90 days, perform 180 hours of unpaid work and attend 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.