A TEENAGER drove a transit van dangerously as he fled from the police before crashing into a car driven by a pregnant woman.

Magistrates at the city’s Rickergate court ruled that the offences committed in Carlisle by 19-year-old Workington man Tylor Lockhart were so serious that he should be sentenced by a judge at Carlisle Crown Court.

The teenager, of Fountains Avenue, Workington, admitted the following three offences:

• Dangerous driving

• Driving in a way not permitted by his licence.

• And driving while not insured.

Prosecutor George Shelley said that police became interested in the defendant’s Ford Transit van after a records check confirmed that it was not legally licensed to be used on a the public highway.

Police spotted the defendant in the Ford Transit Connect van shortly after mid-day on Monday, January 24, in Beverley Rise, Harraby, Carlisle. The officers then began following the van, intending to speak to the driver.

But the teenager - in an apparent attempt to avoid this - sped off along Brantwood Avenue, doing 40mph in an area with a speed limit of 30mph.

As the officers gave pursuit, with their vehicle's blue lights and siren activated, the defendant continued to speed away, turning on to Edgehill Road and then into Cumwhinton Road, heading towards the Garlands estate.

At one point during that journey, said Mr Shelley, Lockhart drove across a playpark belonging to Pennine Way Primary School. 

The police pursuit continued out beyond the city boundary towards Cumwhinton village and then towards Scotby.

Throughout the incident, the court heard, the teenager repeatedly drove above the speed limit and at times on the wrong side of the road.

Towards the end of the incident, said Mr Shelley, the defendant deliberately reversed into the police vehicle that was following him, leaving it damaged.

After then driving through a red light where workmen were gathered, the teenager's escape bid came to an abrupt halt - as he crashed head on into a Vauxhall Astra.

It was being driven by a woman who at the time was 25 weeks pregnant. Thankfully, said Mr Shelley, the woman suffered only minor injuries.

The entire pursuit is thought to have covered a distance of around two miles. Magistrates said that the defendant's offences were so serious that he should be dealt with by a Carlisle Crown Court judge.

Lockhart will appear at that court for sentence on March 8. In the meantime, he will be subjected to an interim disqualification.

The teenager was represented in court by defence lawyer Roger Lowther. An allegation of failing to stop for a police officer when required to do so was withdrawn by the prosecution. Court recrods show that the defendant previously had a different address, at Rowcliffe Lane, Penrith.