Leeds teenager locked up over police chase

A teenager was over the drink drive limit when he crashed into a parked car during a police chase, a court heard.

Liam Wigglesworth, 19, was sent to a young offenders institution for eight months after a court heard he struck the vehicle with such force that it went into the air and turned 180 degrees.

Leeds Crown Court heard Wigglesworth was spotted driving a Seat Leon on Throstle Road North, Middleton, at 4.40am on April 28 this year.

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He then turned on to Sharp Lane and drove at 90mph in a 30mph area. Officers signalled for him to stop but he sped off along Leeds Road. Alisha Kaye, prosecuting, said Wigglesworth drove through red lights and on to the wrong side of the road. He lost control and went into a row of hedges before regaining control of the vehicle and turning onto Jumbles Lane.

Miss Kaye said Wigglesworth reached 94mph as he drove through Carlton village.

He eventually lost control on Copley Lane and hit a parked Ford Focus. Wigglesworth ran from the car and hid under a hedge. He was found by police dogs. The court heard he was one and a half times the drink drive limit when he was breathalysed. Wigglesworth, of Throstle Road North, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident and drink driving.

Ian Cook, mitigating, said the incident happened at a time when he was grieving after the death of his uncle. Mr Cook said the trainee printer would lose his job if he was sent immediately to custody.

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Judge Jacqueline Davies told Wigglesworth: “It is nothing short of a miracle that nobody was injured or killed, including yourself, in this appalling piece of sustained driving.”

Wigglesworth was also banned from driving for three years.