TRAFFIC cops almost lost a suspect during a high-speed chase - because they slowed to adjust their wing mirrors, a court heard today (Wednesday, December 3).

Officers were pursuing a speeding vehicle through Darlington when they came upon the so-called ‘Skinny Bridge’ – a narrow road which runs through a railway bridge on Parkside.

To prevent damage to their vehicle, the officers stopped to adjust the wing-mirrors and temporarily lost their suspect – later finding his empty car on its roof and spewing smoke in a nearby housing estate.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard that Anwar Javed Baig – previously disqualified from driving three times - had fled the upturned vehicle after hitting a street sign.

The incident occurred after officers attempted to pull Baig over for a stop check at around 3.30am on Sunday, October 19.

Prosecutor Paula Sanderson said: “The vehicle failed to stop and was attempting to evade the police, travelling at 80 miles per hour in a 30 zone.

“He was going at excess speed while other vehicles were approaching and accelerating towards a roundabout that he drove straight over.

“He ignored the roundabout heading towards the skinny railway bridge where he nearly lost control.

“It's so narrow that the police vehicle had to slow down because they had to put their wing-mirrors in to get through – when they exited the bridge, they temporarily lost him.

“They decided to turn into the estate and as they did, they saw smoke from the roadside ahead of them.

“They saw the car was upside down, having collided with a school crossing sign, but the driver had vanished and was found in the nearby housing estate.”

Baig was arrested and admitted in interview that he had never taken a driving test and had no licence or insurance.

The court heard he had planned to go for a walk before spotting the keys to his partner’s car, pushing the vehicle away from the property and taking it for a ride through Darlington.

He told police that he had accelerated after spotting the police car and panicking – accelerating further when they turned on their lights and sirens.

The 26-year-old, of Humber Place, pleaded guilty to a string of driving offences and will appear at Teesside Crown Court at a later date.

District Judge Andrew Meachin said: “This is a serious matter of dangerous driving and quite frankly, you are looking at a sentence in excess of six months imprisonment.”