A driver who was high on cannabis drove down the wrong side of a carriageway towards oncoming vehicles before crashing into another car while trying to flee from police.

Laine Hempsey, 25, of Dryden Avenue, Southey Green, Sheffield, was driving a Vauxhall Signum in the Gleadless area of the city when an officer in an unmarked car noticed him drive through a red light.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “The officer requested Hempsey to stop for a chat, but he failed to do so.

“Mr Hempsey then continued to drive dangerously including on the wrong side of the carriage way, despite oncoming traffic, and on pavements.”

At his appearance at Sheffield Magistrate Court, Mr Hempsey pleaded guilty to the offences, and was jailed for one year.

He was also disqualified for holding or obtaining a driving licence for 18 months, and ordered to pay a surcharge of £187.

This news comes following data released from the National Office of Statistics, which ranked Sheffield as having the fourth worst drug offence rate in the country, with 4.05 offences per 1000 residents.

Following the collision with a Vauxhall Astra, Hempsey then attempted to escape on foot near Dorset Street in Broomhall. However, police dog PD Kyro managed to bring the suspect to a halt.

Following his arrest, he was then subject to a roadside drugs test which showed Hempsey to be over the prescribed limit for cannabis.

South Yorkshire police also said “Further enquiries found that Hemsey only had a provisional driving licence and was not insured to drive the Signum.

“Mr Hempsey was charged with driving a motor vehicle dangerously, failure to stop, driving whilst over the prescribed limit for drugs, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, and driving without third party insurance.”

South Yorkshire Police say; “Drug driving is one of the fatal four offences that are the greatest contributing factors of death and serious injury on our roads.

“This reckless behaviour will not be tolerated and we will continue to seek out those who pose a risk and put them before the courts.”