A TEENAGER did a 180-degree handbrake turn in the middle of a road and caused two accidents, a court heard yesterday.

The 17-year-old, from Darlington, then sped away from the scene in the town at high speed, leaving one car damaged and a driver with injuries.

Magistrates at Darlington Youth Court heard yesterday how the boy was closely following a car along Yarm Road one evening last month and began to weave from side to side.

Barry Smith, prosecuting, said the car in front slowed down and the defendant collided with its rear, causing the driver to suffer back injuries.

"He then accelerated hard and seemed to execute a handbrake turn, doing a 180- degree turn in the middle of the road, and in so doing he crashed into another car coming the other way," said Mr Smith.

"He was then seen to drive off at some speed and leave the scene."

Stephen Andrews, for the teenager, said he had known the man driving ahead of him along Yarm Road and was trying to get away from him.

He said the teenager perceived a danger to his own safety because of an earlier incident where he was boxed in by the other driver in the car park of McDonalds, in Morton Park, Darlington.

The 17-year-old admitted charges of driving dangerously, failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident and driving without a licence.

He also admitted two separate charges of driving without a licence on December 5 and November 30 last year.

Magistrates adjourned the case until March 5 for a pre-sentence report to be drawn up and said they were steering towards a community penalty.