A TEENAGE driver who raced away instead of stopping for police crashed into the doorway of a busy pub.

Blackburn magistrates heard the 17-year-old then panicked and ran from the scene but was caught after the police helicopter was called in.

The chairman told the youth, who can not be named for legal reasons, he was lucky not to have killed himself or someone else as a result of his behaviour.

“There could easily have been someone standing in that porch having a cigarette when you crashed into it,” said the chairman.

“You seem like a sensible young man and I hope this is your first and last involvement with the courts.”

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The defendant pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, failing to stop for police, failing to stop and report a collision, driving without a valid licence.

He was made subject to a referral order for six months and banned from driving for the same period. His father will have to pay £1,500 compensation for the damage caused at the Bonny Inn, Salesbury.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said police saw a red van travelling slowly in Wilpshire and decided to stop it for a routine check.

“As soon as they activated their light and sirens the van sped away along Knowsley Road towards Ribchester Road,” said Miss Allan. “It turned on to Ribchester Road without slowing and then started overtaking a line of vehicles.”

Miss Allan said the officers switched off the sirens and lights and ended the pursuit because of the danger to other road users but as they approached the Bonny Inn saw the van embedded in the porch shortly after 9pm.

“The driver jumped out and ran off into the fields but he was arrested after the helicopter was called in and a search carried out,” said Miss Allan

Bonny Inn landlord Mike Heathcote said the damage to the porch had cost £2,950 to repair and had caused considerable inconvenience to him.

Andrew Nottingham, defending, said his client came from a good family and had no previous convictions. He said police had decided the offences were too serious to be dealt with by caution.

“He knows he should have stopped when the police signalled him to and if he had he would not be in court today,” said Mr Nottingham. “He made the worst decision and drove off.”

Mr Nottingham said another car had pulled off the Bonny Inn car park and his client knew he was going to hit something.

“He missed the car but came to rest in the pub,” he added.