Joel Griffiths has a brush with the Law

Newcastle police drew their weapons when they suspected Joel Griffiths, 29, was armed.

Instead, they found him partially clothed with his genitals in a jar, a police statement said.

Griffiths attracted attention parked in a no-stopping zone before noon on October 26.

Police believed Griffiths was doing something with his hands in his lap and thought that he might have a weapon.

Griffiths saw the police and drove away, despite them flashing their lights.

The chase lasted five to 10 minutes, with a top speed of just 20 kmh, before Griffiths was stopped at Centenary Drive, Newcastle. He refused to leave the car.

Four officers used batons and capsicum spray to remove him.They found a 750-millilitre jar around his penis and noted that Griffiths attempted to continue "pleasuring himself in between bouts of wrestling".

A search of his car uncovered pornography, a home-made sex aid, women's stockings and a Jack Russell terrier.

Griffiths pleaded guilty to offensive behaviour, resisting police and disobeying a police direction.

Magistrate Elaine Truscott asked Griffiths, who represented himself, why he behaved the way he did.

He said he resisted police because he was trying to make himself "decent".

He was fined $600 for offensive behaviour and convicted of the other two offences without further action