A BOY who was taught to drive by Blackpool social workers when he was just TEN used his skills to become a demon behind the wheel.

His high-speed driving ability enabled him to outwit experienced traffic police for up to two hours at a time.

He also managed to evade stinger road traps while reaching speeds of 90 miles per hour, a youth court heard.

His lawyer told the hearing: "It worries me a great deal how my client was taught to drive while in care at the age of just ten."

The slightly built boy from Blackpool, now 14, pleaded guilty to three offences of aggravated taking a car without consent.

The court hear he had learned his driving skills when he was a resident at Fylde Farm, an institution for young offenders and difficult children.

Mr Philip Riley told Blackpool Youth Court about one of the offences, when the boy drove to Haslingden - 40 miles from Blackpool - where police began to pursue him.

He said: "He went through two sets of red traffic lights then turned back towards Accrington swerving from side to side.

"Police used a stinger device to try to stop him. To avoid this, he drove over the central carriageway and along the wrong side of the road.

"The car had been driven in a very determined way to prevent it being stopped."

One police officer involved with the cases said: "The lad drives like a real pro."

The boy's mother has branded the decision to teach her son to drive as "an absolute disgrace."

She said: "I couldn't believe it when he came home and told me how well he could drive and how the staff had said he was a good driver.

"He even brought back a certificate from the school praising his tractor-driving competency."

Joan Humble, Lancashire County Council's social services committee chairman, denied the boy had learned how to drive while in county care.

She said: "When the boy came into our care, aged 10, he had already been charged with motoring offences.

"As chair of the social services committee, I have asked the director to produce a full report to members of the committee. It is very important that we know exactly what happened."

The boy was given a supervision order for three years and a 12-month driving ban.

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