A 19-year-old led police on a car chase in Blackburn after he 'panicked' as he had no licence or insurance to be able to drive.

Douglas Sharp, 19, of Hall Lane, Bolton, was parked outside Nabzy's takeaway in a black Hyundai in New Chapel Street, Blackburn, last summer.

Preston Crown Court heard how at around 8.20pm on August 15, 2023, a police officer pulled up alongside Sharp's car.

PC Howarth checked Sharp's vehicle and noticed it had no registered keeper or insurance, and decided to speak to the driver as they also noticed the car door was open.

But prosecutor Clare Thomas told the court that before police had chance to investigate, Sharp sped off in broad daylight, in streets that were close to a children's park, and 'had pedestrians of all ages close by'.

Dashcam footage showed a police pursuit at speeds of up to 45mph, before Sharp crashed in to two cars and fled the vehicle with a female who was a passenger.

In mitigation for Sharp, Thomas Farr told the court the police chase was "only" a few minutes long.

He said: "He is remorseful. He was not thinking straight when he saw the police and panicked because he knew he should not have been driving the vehicle.

"He looks after his younger brother and sister with cystic fibrosis, and his uncle has promised him a landscaping job at his business if he promises to stay out of trouble."

Sharp pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without a licence, and driving without insurance.

Recorder John Jones KC sentenced Sharp to 10 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and disqualified Sharp from driving for three years, after which he will have to take an extended test to get a licence.

He said: "The manner you were driving in was dangerous, especially as you were driving close to a children's play park.

"I do not need to describe the chase because we have seen the footage taken by the police car, but you clearly sped away with cars on both sides of the road and crashed into two.

"Although you were arrested and answered 'no comment', as is your right, you had the sense to plead guilty, and that, alongside your siblings' reliance on you, are the only reasons I am willing to suspend this sentence."