An uninsured driver flouted a red light and travelled on the wrong side of the road as he tried to flee the scene after crashing into a taxi in a bus lane.
Shay Harris had illegally been driving his Audi along the bus lane on Gosforth High Street when he "rear-ended" the cab, which had passengers in the back. Instead of waiting at the scene, the 20-year-old performed a U-turn on the busy road and sped-off in the direction of the Blue House Roudabout, a court heard.
The taxi driver dropped off his fare before following Harris and watching as he travelled above the 30mph speed limit on the wrong side of the carriageway. Harris then turned onto Jesmond Road and was seen to flout a red light at the junction with Jesmond Dene Road, prosecutors said.
