Watch as drug driver causes £3,000 worth of damage on garage forecourt

This is the moment a drugged-up driver caused £3,000 worth of damage after he careered his BMW into a row of parked cars on a garage forecourt.

Footage shows Qays Ahmed narrowly missing a van as he attempts a dangerous overtake before he smashed into a brick wall outside Wingrove Cars on Westgate Road in Newcastle.

Four vehicles were damaged during the smash before Ahmed tried to flee the scene with two passengers - leaving a pile of rubble behind.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the defendant lost control of his BMW, drove through a red light and over pedestrian crossings before colliding with the wall of a car dealership, where four vehicles were damaged.

Prosecutor Shada Mellor said that officers in the area were already on the lookout for Ahmed in his silver BMW 3 series after he failed to stop for one of their colleagues earlier the same morning in May.

He was later seen speeding past an officer in the West Road area of Newcastle.

Ms Mellor said: "The vehicle drove straight through a red light, it was traveling at speed along Westgate Road.

"The police officer made no attempt to stop the vehicle but alerted other officers. The vehicle has then collided into some parked cars at a garage forecourt."

The court heard that Ahmed's driving was caught on dashcam footage of an ambulance which was responding to an emergency call.

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Ms Mellor said he overtook the vehicle onto the wrong side of the road before he crashed around a mile away from where the original officer spotted him.

Three occupants got out and attempted to make off on foot but Ahmed was caught and arrested.

Subsequent tests revealed he had 32mg of cocaine per litre of blood in his system with the legal limit being 10.

He also recorded 800mg of Benzoylecgonine where the legal limit is just 50.

The court heard the manager of the garage totalled the cost of the damage to the parked cars at around £3,000.

At the time of his arrest Ahmed, now 23, Jesmond House YWCA, Clayton Road, Newcastle, was of good character but has since been convicted of a separate failing to provide offence.

He then pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and two counts of driving with a drug over the specified limit.

Mairi Clancy, defending, told the court: "This offence was committed at a particularly stressful time in the defendant's life.

"He had experienced family problems with his mother and father. He was at one point homeless and is now living in a hostel.

"He panicked and took off and his decision making is linked to his low level of maturity.

"The defendant is disappointed to read (from the probation service) he had no remorse.

"That is not what he tells me and he is acutely aware that somebody could have been killed as a result of the crash.

"He is deeply sorry and asks me to express that to the court."

Recorder Richard Stubbs sentenced Ahmed to 14 months behind bars suspended for two years.

The recorder told him: "It is extremely fortunate that no one was on the pavement at that time. You exited the vehicle and you ran away.

"It's clear that you drove dangerously for prolonged periods."

Ahmed must also complete 40 rehabilitation activity days and 150 hours of unpaid work. He was banned from driving for two years and must pass an extended re-test.