An unlicensed driver three times over the drug driving limit led police on a chase into a supermarket car park.
Shoppers were forced to flee for safety as Tyler Palmer repeatedly screeched around in circles as he attempted to escape arrest following a high-speed pursuit.
Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told he had failed to stop for a marked police car on Hall Road in Norwich on January 20.
Sally Harris, prosecuting, said instead of pulling over the 20-year-old, who was at the wheel of an Audi despite having no licence, had sped off.
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Dashcam footage from the pursuing police vehicles screened in court showed him driving on the wrong side of the road, undertaking other cars and running red lights.
The pursuit, which happened in the middle of the afternoon, ended when he swerved into Tesco at Harford Bridge.
“There were a lot of people in the car park. Fortunately no-one was injured but that was more through luck than anything else,” said Ms Harris.
His reckless driving had been aggravated by him being found to be three times the drug-drive limit for cannabis, she added.
Palmer, of Thurlby Road in Bowthorpe, Norwich, admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop, drug driving and having no licence or insurance.
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Deciding against jailing him, magistrates told him: “You can consider yourself very lucky."
They added: “To say your conduct was appalling is not a strong enough word to describe your driving and the dangers that you put other road users in."
He was banned from driving for 18 months and told to gain a licence he would have to take an extended test. He was also made the subject of an 18-month community order requiring him to do 240 hours of unpaid work and complete 30 rehabilitation days.
Palmer, who represented himself, said: “I made a bad decision but since the time of the incident I have got a job and stopped smoking cannabis.
"I am focused on changing my life for the better.”
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