THIS is the footage of a dramatic police chase where a junkie driver recklessly tore through residential neighbourhoods in Southampton at high speeds.

Jamie Toone hit speeds of up to 70mph as he fled from officers in a dangerous white-knuckle ride which would have horrified drivers approaching in the other direction and anyone else on the road.

CCTV from an dashboard camera on-board the pursuing police car show him mounting a pavement to undertake a car at a junction, jumping a red light and regularly causing oncoming cars to swerve to avoid collision on narrow roads.

The late-night pursuit climaxes within seven minutes when he abandons his car after hitting a kerb and sprints into an alleyway on foot.

Now a judge has granted him a “last chance” to ditch the drugs – ordering him to tackle his addiction after handing him a suspended prison sentence for dangerous driving.

Toone, 39, of Lavender Close, admitted the charge – and two separate charges of shoplifting.

It comes as police warn Toone’s actions put pedestrians and fellow drivers’ “lives at risk” and sends a warning shot to motorists who think they can outrun police.

Southampton Crown Court heard how officers in a squad car began pursing Toone in the city’s Woodmill Lane when spotting him driving a red Volkswagen Polo with a broken light.

Prosecutor Simon Edwards said Toone “pulled away” into Dell Road, speeding along residential roads in Midanbury, Bitterne and Peartree, accelerating over a Give Way junction, jumping a red light and mounting a pavement to swerve past parked vehicles.

Mr Edwards told the court: “He was travelling on the wrong side of the road, reaching 70mph in a 30mph zone and causing oncoming vehicles to take evasive action or pull over.”

The court heard how he lost control of the Polo in Acacia Road when the offside wheel hit a kerb and he, got out and ran down an alleyway.

Officers later found him hiding in a house in Lavender Avenue, where he was arrested, it was heard.

The court heard how he also admitted stealing food from Tesco Express on August 25 and a vehicle part from Halfords on September 4 – offences breaching a community order for previously stealing a leg of lamb.

In mitigation barrister Charles Coshand said his client borrowed the car from his girlfriend to search for drugs and had “panicked” when police began tailing him.

Mr Coshand said: “It was panic driven by his addiction to drugs. But this is a man who has tried to seek help and address his addiction voluntarily.”

Daily Echo:

Judge Peter Henry ruled Toone – who has 14 previous convictions for a string of offences including for drugs and other driving penalties – deserved another chance to tackle his addiction.

He received an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years, Judge Henry branded it an “unpleasant piece of driving”, but added: “I will give you a last chance – fail and you will be back in jail.”

He was also was disqualified from driving for 18 months, must retake his test and was ordered to complete a six-month drug rehabilitation order.

A charge of taking a vehicle without consent and driving without insurance was ordered to lie on file.

Afterwards officer in charge PC Sunny Bolina said: “This sentence sends a positive message to those drivers who think they don't have to stop for the police and those who think they can drive dangerously causing risk to other road users and pedestrians.

"Jamie Toone's actions that night not only put his life at risk, but the lives of other road users and our officers. It is very fortunate that no one was injured.

"His sentencing comes as a result of the skill and hard work of the officers involved, who were determined to bring this offender to justice."