A DRIVER who was high on drugs was captured after he drove his car into a river while fleeing from police.

Mohammed Azam, of Welles Road, High Wycombe, was seen by police driving at twice the legal speed limit in a 30mph zone, driving on the wrong side of the road and going straight across traffic islands when police were unable to make him stop.

Prosecuting, Rachel Drake told Aylesbury Crown Court on Thursday that Azam had driven dangerously during the chase on February 16 which resulted in Azam driving his Vauxhall Astra into the River Wye where the car stalled.

He fled on foot but was captured by police. Jewellery and other items were found in his possession and a medical examination revealed Azam had cocaine and other drugs in his system at the time which made him unfit to drive, said Miss Drake.

Serial offender Azam, 35, was sentenced for a catalogue of crimes he had admitted at an earlier hearing including possession of 3.77g of heroin and 1.96g of cocaine, three offences of handling stolen property, driving the Astra dangerously, driving while disqualified, driving while unfit through drugs, dangerous driving in a Toyota in High Wycombe on May 16 and driving while disqualified and without insurance on the same date.

Miss Drake added that at the time of the drugs possession offences Azam was on parole from a previous prison term which had 113 days outstanding.

Clemency Firth, defending, said Azam was a serious and long-term drug addict at the time.

Judge Daniel Rodwell ordered Azam to serve the remaining days and jailed him for a further of five years for the other offences.

He was also banned from driving for three years.