A MAN at the wheel of a car taken without authority carried on despite driving over a ‘stinger’ device deployed by police in a bid to deflate his tyres.

Hayden David Bowers was in an Audi A4, previously reported as being taken from an address in Butterknowle, Teesdale, County Durham, which was pursued by police late on December 16.

When the vehicle ignored signals to stop, the stinger was placed on a road in Kirk Merrington.

Although the Audi’s tyres began to deflate, Bowers continued at speed through Chilton and Ferryhill, before being brought to a halt by police vehicles on the A167, shortly after 11pm.

Appearing via video link from Holme House Prison, at Stockton, at a hearing at Durham Crown Court today (Monday January 5), Bowers admitted dangerous driving.

His barrister, Martin Towers, said the defendant was keen to be sentenced.

But as prosecuting counsel Sam Faulks said it was unclear which other motoring matters were admitted by Bowers at a previous hearing before South Durham magistrates, Judge Christopher Prince adjourned the case to clear up the situation.

The judge told him, however: “You have a bad record and must expect to receive consecutive sentences.”

Nineteen-year-old Bowers, of Farndale Square, Bishop Auckland, was remanded back to custody pending sentence on Friday January 30.