A TEENAGE driver led police on a high-speed chase along busy commuter routes during the afternoon rush hour, a court heard on Friday.

Lewis Slater, of Francis Avenue in Bournemouth, had turned 18 just two days before the incident in Bournemouth on Monday, January 15 this year.

Police travelling in a marked car along Wallisdown Road spotted the defendant’s Volkswagen Beetle in traffic at 5pm. One officer said it appeared that the Beetle began travelling faster after its driver saw the police car.

The officer radioed other PCs working in the area and turned the marked car to follow.

However, once Slater spotted the police again, he quickly accelerated away into Ringwood Road. Armed police who had been in the area then became involved in the pursuit.

Charles Nightingale, prosecuting at Poole Magistrates’ Court, said: “It’s the estimate of officers that the defendant was driving at 60 or 70 miles per hour in a 30mph area.”

In High Howe Lane, Slater hit a parked Mazda, badly damaging the vehicle. An officer from the armed response vehicle leapt out and managed to wrench open the passengers’ side door while the car was at a halt. Slater then sped off again.

The officer later said it was “pure chance” he wasn’t mown down.

A short time later, police managed to box the vehicle in and Slater was arrested. His passenger was in “tears” and the defendant later admitted he had been “begged” to stop.

A knuckleduster was found in the defendant’s jacket and more than 3.5 grams of cannabis, as well as weighing scales and empty plastic bags, were discovered in a black bag in the car.

Slater appeared at Poole Magistrates’ Court to admit dangerous driving, possession of a class B drug and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

The defendant has received warnings and reprimands before. However, this is his first conviction, magistrates heard.

Nicola Jinks, mitigating, said the offence was a “massive error of judgement”.

The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports.