A DRUNKEN teenager who took his girlfriend’s car without permission crashed it into a hedge while being pursued by police, a court heard.

Andrew Lawton was spotted speeding in the Ford Focus by police in West Auckland, County Durham, at around 10.10pm on April 13.

Deborah Jones, prosecuting told Newton Aycliffe magistrates today (Friday, May 3), that the 18-year-old had been drinking with friends earlier in the day and had taken his girlfriend’s car after she went to bed.

“Officers saw a car being driven at excessive speed and took up pursuit,” she said. “They turned on their blue lights signalling for him to pull over but he failed to do so.

“The officers then activated their sirens but he still refused to stop.”

The court heard how Lawton, of Blackett Street, Bishop Auckland, was travelling upto 80mph on Shildon bypass.

He then turned onto the narrow and unlit Brussleton road before losing control on a bend and crashing into a hedge.

A breath test revealed 66 microgrammes (mg) of alcohol in 100ml of breath, almost twice the legal limit of 35mg.

He pleaded guilty to drink driving, aggravated vehicle taking, failing to stop and driving without a licence and third party insurance.

Rory Todd, mitigating, said Lawton, who has no previous convictions, was  remorseful and could remember little of the incident.

Lawton received a 12 month community order, comprising 80 hours of unpaid work and a four-week curfew between 8pm and 6am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

He was also banned from driving for 18 months and was ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge and £40 prosecution costs.