A man being hunted by police over a string of dangerous driving and other offences - who escaped the authorities after he was followed to a Jesmond shopping centre carpark this week - has been arrested.
Police allegedly tried to stop the man in a stolen Lexus at Charlestown about 3.30pm on Tuesday but the vehicle crossed to the wrong side of the road and sped away.
Officers followed the car through several suburbs, including Broadmeadow, Lambton and Waratah, before it was found abandoned in the carpark of a shopping centre at Jesmond about 5pm.
An examination of the Lexus found it had been stolen from Merewether earlier this month, police said.
After ongoing inquiries and a public appeal for help identifying the alleged offender, a Wallsend man was arrested at a Morpeth cafe about 11am on Thursday.
The 21-year-old was charged with 26 counts for alleged driving, break and enter, stolen motor vehicle, petrol theft and pursuit offences.
He was refused police bail and is due to face Maitland Local Court today.
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