See moment Range Rover driver raced towards pedestrians in South Shields town centre

Jordan Pearce overtook cars at a set of traffic lights and drove straight towards his targets, who were forced to get out of his way, on April 22 2019.

Newcastle Crown Court heard nobody was hurt but a judge said there was risk of injury being caused.

Pearce, 28, of Girtin Road, South Shields, denied dangerous driving but was found guilty by a jury after a trial.

At his sentence hearing CCTV footage that caught the dangerous, late night manoeuvre, at a junction on Ocean Road in the town, was played in court.

But the court was told from Pearce’s defence who said his client ‘who has turned his life around’.

Judge Sarah Mallett said the moments that were captured on camera were "by far the most serious because it involved driving at pedestrians".

The judge added: "There is obviously a background, what that background is is not entirely clear, but it was targeted at those particular individuals.

"There was a risk of injury to those pedestrians.

"Whether you intended to hit them or whether you intended to frighten them, it was up to them to get out of the way of that car or they could have been struck, regardless.

The judge said no actual contact was made with any of the men and no damage was caused to any other vehicle.

Pearce was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, with 150 hours unpaid work, a one year road ban and extended test requirement.

The court heard Pearce has served a prison sentence after he committed the driving offence the judge said he has since made "long term changes" to his life that meant she could take an "exceptional" course and suspend the jail term.

Christopher Knox, defending, handed in character references and said Pearce has positive employment prospects.

Mr Knox told the court: "This is a young man who has turned his life around.

"It was a short period of driving."

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