SINGAPORE - A man who took his friend's rented car and drove dangerously and under the influence of drugs was packed off to jail for 51/2 years and given three strokes of the cane.

Muhammad Umair Md Nasir, 29, was also banned from driving for one year and fined a total of $3,200 on Wednesday after admitting to seven of 10 charges.

A district court heard that Umair, who has no Class 3 driving licence, was driving a car along Whitley Road at about 2.30am on May 2 last year when he ignored an order by a traffic cop to stop during a spot check.

Staff Sergeant Nazrul Ariffin chased after him along Pan-Island Expressway towards Changi Airport. Umair failed to keep a proper lookout and drove in a zig-zag manner while changing lanes abruptly to evade the cop.

He also encroached into the travel path of a few motorists who had to swerve to avoid hitting his car.

When Staff Sgt Nazrul stopped him along Mount Pleasant Road, Umair admitted that he had taken Ice, the street name for methamphetamine. He also admitted having taken his friend's car when his friend fell asleep.

The court heard that he had taken drugs when his earlier drug conviction and 12-month sentence in 2010 had not been set aside.

In another case, he had also threatened his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend, Mr Muhammad Abdul Mubarak Madi, 27 at Seah Im Food Centre on Jan 1 this year.

He was having breakfast at the food centre when he chanced upon Mr Abdul Mubarak. Umair stared at him and was angry when Mr Abdul Mubarak smirked at him.

Out of anger, he reached out for a knife on the table next to him and charged towards Mr Abdul Mubarak who ran towards HarbourFront MRT station.

Umair only stopped chasing the victim when his legs started to hurt.

He has previous convictions for theft, causing hurt, unlawful assembly, possession of offensive weapon and drugs.

Assistant Prakash Otharam pointed out that Umair had not been deterred by his 18-month and six-stroke sentence in 2008 for having an offensive weapon.

He said Umair posed a danger to the public and the manner he drove showed his total disregard for the law and the safety of others.