A TEENAGER who drove at twice the speed limit in residential areas as he attempted to evade police has avoided prison.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Dylan Langley did not have a driving licence when, following an argument with his mother, he took her car to visit a nearby store on the afternoon of August 10 last year.

Prosecutor Erin Kitson-Parker said he was spotted by police driving an uninsured car on Thornton Road and ordered to stop.

Instead, the 18-year-old sped off, reaching speeds of 50mph in a 30mph zone causing other drivers to swerve out of the way.

He turned into the Allerton estate where the car skidded due to the speed, accelerated to 60mph in a 30mph zone in Thornton village overtaking several members of the public and swerving dangerously between two vehicles causing another car to move out of the way.

After the five-minute chase, Langley abandoned the car, which rolled slowly down a hill and stopped at a fence.

After a pursuit on foot through a pub and onto a street of terraced houses where he jumped over a wall he was caught at his grandmother’s house and arrested. During interview, he answered “no comment”.

Langley, of Market Street, Thornton, later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and driving without a licence.

Mitigating, Fatima Laher provided character references from members of Langley’s family and a potential employer.

She said it was a heat-of-the-moment decision that prompted Langley to drive off when police ordered him to stop, and that he “panicked”.

She said he was a carer for his elderly grandmother and visited her daily.

Her Honour Recorder Taryn Turner described Langley’s “prolonged, persistent and deliberate” dangerous driving as “disgraceful” but told him: “I am not going to lock you up.”

Taking note of his age, no previous convictions, and lack of damage from the incident she said: “I am allowing you your liberty today because of your guilty plea.

“You must not do it again.

“There will be a sentence of four months custody suspended for a period of 12 months. That will be hanging over your head.”

She also ordered Langley to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 60 rehabilitation requirement activity days.

He was disqualified from driving for 15 months and ordered to take an extended driving test when the disqualification period is complete.