A NORTHWICH teenager drunkenly stole a car before leading police on a road chase.

The 16-year-old boy crashed into one cop car as the pursuit was brought to a halt and caused more than £6,000 of damage.

Warrington Magistrates Court heard on Thursday, May 19, the youth had been drinking lager and spirits before stealing the Seat Ateca in the early hours of March 13 this year.

Patrols then spotted the vehicle with no rear off-side tyre and attempted to pull it over.

But the teen, who cannot be named for legal reasons, ‘sped off at speed’ – overtaking a Volkswagen car and ‘swerving’ into the opposite carriageway.

The officer was unable to continue the pursuit, but the stolen motor was then spotted again by a dog unit.

This led to the defendant undertaking the police car and mounting the pavement before colliding with the front of the other vehicle on Richmond Avenue in Grappenhall, in what was described as a ‘deliberate, dangerous act’.

As well as causing ‘extensive damage’ totalling £6,446.39, the crash ‘aggravated’ the PC’s previous whiplash injury.

Subsequent tests found the boy had 50 micrograms of alcohol in his system per 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 35mg, while he was also caught carrying an illegal friction lock baton.

His actions were described as being ‘out of character’, and he apologised when asked to address the court.

The teenager admitted aggravated vehicle taking, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, drink driving, driving without a licence and driving without insurance during an earlier hearing.

He was handed a 12-month youth referral order and banned from driving for two years.

Sentencing, magistrates panel chairman Elaine Hemmings said: “If you were an adult then it would certainly be a case where we would send that adult to prison.

“We consider these offences are so serious they do cross the custody threshold.

“However, because you are under 18 there is a direct alternative to custody.

“If you don’t do the work, you will be brought back to court and the court will have very limited options.

“It won’t be long before you are 18, and you’re getting to an age where you do need to be really careful about obeying the law.”

The youth’s driving record will be endorsed, while he was told to pay £100 in compensation to the police officer.

Forfeiture and destruction of the weapon was ordered by magistrates.