A heroin addict who escaped from police because he thought he would be deprived of his methadone has walked free from court.

Steven Mansfield, 27, was stopped by officers after they saw him driving a Vauxhall Belmont with an unrestrained child standing up in the back seat on January 6 last year.

The father-of-two was questioned outside his home and a warrant for driving with no insurance was discovered after the national police computer was checked.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the heroin addict asked one of the officers to collect his methadone from the house, then made a run for it.

Chris Williamson, prosecuting, said: "He lunged from the front seat of the police car to the rear and opened the door and got out.

"He struggled and managed to break free from the female officer trying to hold on to him.

"The door of the police vehicle was pushed and the policewoman's arm was struck by it. The defendant made good his escape."

He told police he had panicked after he realised he could have been jailed without his methadone.

Judge Peter Bowers said: "Anybody who tries to escape from police custody or arrest, in my book, deserves to go to prison, but I do accept you panicked because of your methadone."

Mansfield of Cavell Place, Stanley, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment suspended for one year.