THE passenger in a car which caused damage to two police vehicles during a dangerous driving escapade has walked free from court.

Nathan Connor McManus was with driver Leon Ferry when the Kia Sportage, belonging to a mutual friend’s grandfather, was taken for a ride on the evening of October 25 last year.

Durham Crown Court heard that police were on the look out for the car by the early hours the following morning, and it was spotted travelling at speed between Witton Gilbert and Langley Park, at 1.10am.

Although a patrol vehicle officer lost sight of the car for a while, it was seen again travelling at excess speed towards the Red Tile Service Station on the A691, without its lights illuminated.

The Kia was seen driving the wrong way round a roundabout, striking a kerb, at Framwellgate Moor, where its speed was estimated at between 70 and 90-miles per hour, on a 30-limit stretch of the Front Street.

Despite efforts to get the car to stop, the Kia was driven into a police vehicle, but carried on at speed, at one point spinning 360-degrees, near the Arnison Centre, before continuing on through residential area of Newton Hall.

There was a further shunt with another police vehicle, which had to be withdrawn from the pursuit.

The 20-minute pursuit came to an end when the Kia was abandoned by the duo, after crossing a grassy area in New Brancepeth.

Both occupants were arrested a short distance away.

The court heard it was one of two cases of dangerous driving committed by Ferry within a few months.

Ferry, now 21, of Doric Road, New Brancepeth, was jailed for a total of 39 months in January after after admitting various charges arising from both incidents.

McManus, 19, of Rock Terrace, New Brancepeth, admitted aggravated vehicle taking, relating to the October incident.

Judge Christopher Prince deferred sentence on him for six months.

Returning for sentence, the court was told he has responded well to a previous order in which he received probation supervision

The judge, therefore imposed a 12-month community order, with 20-probation rehabilitation activity days, and banned McManus from driving for a year.