A TEENAGER'S high speed chase around a town centre came to sudden halt when he crashed the Audi A4 into a bollard.

Ryan Vickers sped off from police when they tried to pull him over as he drove around Darlington.

The 19-year-old, who reached speeds 65mph in residential areas, was driving so dangerously that pursuing officers were forced to call off the chase at around 11.30 pm on July 25.

Teesside Crown Court heard how he was spotted by police again at around midnight while he was driving back towards the town centre without his headlights on.

Dr Chris Wood, prosecuting, said Vickers was driving around residential areas at speeds in excess of 60mph, racing over speed-bumps and forcing other road users to take evasive action when driving on the wrong side of the road.

The court heard how the teenager drove dangerously along roads including Yarm Road, Whinfield Way, West Auckland Road and Bondgate.

Dr Wood added: "He was driving along Hewitson Road at 60mph and by the time he reached Harris Street he came to a dead end and collided with bollards.

"He got out out of the car and made off, leaving two passengers in the car."

He was later arrested walking along Yarm Road and made a full confession.

Vickers, of Paddock Lane, Darlington, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving without a licence and failing to stop.

Stephen Hamill, mitigating, said the teenager panicked and sped off because he feared being jailed for driving without a licence due to 'blatant and apparent immaturity'.

Judge Stephen Ashurst passed a six-month detention and training order, suspended for two years. He said: "Your driving was very bad, you knew you should have stopped for the police; you were driving far too fast for the built up area and it was by sheer good fortune that didn't cause injury to others on the road."