A 21-YEAR-OLD man who took his mum’s car without permission raced off when he realised police were following him.

Blackburn magistrates heard Mohammed Junaid Adam reached speeds of up to 60mph in 30mph zones as he tried to escape.

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And the court was told he was looking in his mirror to see if he had given them the slip when he drove out of a junction and hit another car.

Adam, of Whalley New Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, driving without due care and attention and without insurance and failing to stop after an accident.

He was sentenced to eight weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, ordered to do 200 hours’ unpaid work and ordered to pay £300 compensation, £115 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Enza Geldard, prosecuting, said an officer in an unmarked car saw a Vauxhall Vectra travelling at excessive speed.

He turned to follow and had to reach 60mph to keep pace as the car turned off Copy Nook into Barbara Castle Way and then into Whalley New Road.

The officer turned right at Bastwell lights and almost collided with the vehicle he was chasing as it turned out of a side street.

Mrs Geldard another police officer came across the car at the junction of Plane Street and Whalley New Road where it had collided with another vehicle.

“The passenger in the other vehicle said they were suddenly hit from the side by the other car and carried across the road,” said Mrs Geldard. “The defendant got out of his car and ran off but DNA taken from the airbag put him in the driver’s seat and he was arrested later.”

Richard Prew, defending, said Adam now realised he should have stopped.

“Like many others he simply panicked,” said Mr Prew. “Fortunately, nobody was seriously injured. The passenger in the other car pulled a muscle as he chased my client and that appears to be the only injury.”