TWO teenagers smashed a stolen car into six parked cars causing £13,500 of damage during a high-speed police chase, a court heard.

The GMP force helicopter filmed the pursuit through the streets of Atherton and Hindley in the early hours of December 2 last year.

The stolen Ford Mondeo reached a speed of 90mph. Later the youths lost control and it smashed into six parked cars before part-demolishing a street light.

Despite the chase and the damage caused to other vehicles, Mark Wohler and James Bain were not sent to custody.

After hearing Wohler was due to be released from a sentence on April 22, and that Bain had spent three months in custody on remand, Judge Elliot Knopf passed community penalties.

Bain, who admitted dangerous driving, was sentenced to a two-year Community Rehabilitation Order with a condition he attends the Targeted Offender Programme.

Wohler received a 12-month Community Rehabilitation Order and must attend the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme.

The judge told both they were lucky and that the sentences were their last chance. He asked for three-monthly reports to be sent to him.

Bain, aged 19, of Smithwood Avenue, Hindley, and Wohler, aged 17, of Brookdale Road, Hindley, appeared for sentence at Bolton Crown Court.

Bain admitted aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, burglary and possessing cannabis and Wohler admitted aggravated vehicle taking by allowing himself to be carried in the car.

Wohler's record included going equipped for theft, criminal damage, aggravated vehicle taking, interfering with a vehicle and driving while disqualified. Bain's included driving convictions and attempted burglary.

Prosecutor Lisa Boocroft said that keys for the Mondeo were stolen during a burglary in the early hours. The car was later spotted by the force helicopter in Swan Lane, Hindley.

A police pursuit followed but the officer lost sight of the car when it reached speeds of 90 mph. A second officer saw it speeding up to 80mph through Schofield Lane before carrying out a U-turn in Atherton Road.

Shortly afterwards it went out of control and smashed into a line of six parked cars before hitting a street light.

Bain and Wohler fled the scene. Wohler was caught lying face down in a bush and Bain in a field.

Bain also faced a burglary charge at a house in Campbell Drive, Hindley.

Defending Bain, Mr Richard Heap said that he had served the equivalent of a six month sentence while on remand. He had fully admitted his role in the offences and had seemingly gone off the rails during the period of offences.

Lisa Judge, defending Wohler, said he and his siblings, had been abandoned by his mother and had not coped well with being in care.

Judge Elliot Knopf said that other road-users could have been injured or killed by the dangerous driving.

He was giving them both a chance but said that if they came back before him again they would almost certainly be sent to custody.