Banned driver crashed BMW in Seacroft street then ran off through gardens during lockdown

Christopher Hennigan was arrested after residents called police when they saw him climbing fences of properties in Seacroft.

Leeds Crown Court heard Hennigan appeared to be under the influence of drugs and was incoherent and unsteady on his feet during the incident on May 16 this year.

Prosecutor Lousie Pryke said the defendant was out of prison on licence at the time.

The court heard Hennigan lost control of the vehicle as he approached a bend on Asket Avenue and hit a lamppost at 11.30am.

The car came to rest on a grass banking and Hennigan got out.

Residents saw Hennigan running through gardens and scaling fences.

The 32-year-old was staggering around as he told a member of the public that the police were after him.

The witnessed later described how he thought the defendant was under the influence of drugs.

Miss Pryke said: "Paramedics were called. Police arrived and found him collapsed in a nearby garden. He was incoherent, sweating and breathing heavily.

"He was restrained all the way to hospital due to his violent behaviour.

"It took three police officers and several doctors to hold him down in hospital while sedative was administered.

"He came round and continued to be abusive to hospital staff."

Hennigan, of Roswell Drive, Seacroft, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, having no licence and having no insurance.

He has previous convictions for kidnap, perverting the course of justice and driving offences..

Eddison Flint, mitigating, said Hennigan had told him that he was sober at the time of the crash and believes he may have been suffering from a seizure.

Hennigan was jailed for eight months and disqualified from driving for 40 months.