A man has been arrested and charged after a police patrol in Belfast stopped a vehicle that had made off from officers earlier in the week.

An officer from the Roads Policing Unit based at Mahon Road spotted the white Seat Ibiza and used pre-emptive tactics to bring it to a halt, preventing any pursuit. The male driver attempted to flee on foot but was caught shortly afterwards.

He has since been charged with failing to provide a specimen when unfit through drugs, using a motor vehicle without insurance, and assault on police.

While the officer was dealing with the driver, the vehicle's owner, who was a rear-seat passenger and does not hold a valid driving licence, got into the front and drove the car away. Police later located the Ibiza parked a few streets away and seized it.

Dashcam footage from the police vehicle recorded the owner driving the car. He will now be prosecuted for motoring offences and the vehicle has been removed from his possession by Motability for abuse of the scheme.