A teenager admitted three driving related offences at Harrogate Magistrates Court today (July 10).

Alfie Bennett pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, failing to stop for police and drink-driving.

Alison Whiteley, prosecuting, told the court the incident began at around 9.25pm on June 23.

A police officer in an unmarked car on the A59 in Harrogate at the time noticed a car pass at excess speed.

The officer followed the car, which was being driven by Bennett, until it stopped across the junction with Rowden Lane.

The court heard that as the officer got out of the police car, Bennett sped away and drove across a crossroads at Burley Bank Road.

Ms Whiteley said the officer pursued Bennett, 18, at 90mph.

Bennett, of Sandholme in Market Weighton, East Riding, drove through a 50mph zone at 85mph and turned left at a junction without stopping.

He eventually stopped on a grass verge near Harrogate Army Foundation College on Penny Pot Lane, where he got out of the car and ran off.

The police officer followed Bennett again and managed to arrest the defendant when he fell over.

A female passenger was also in Bennett’s car at the time of the pursuit.

Bennett gave a reading of 57 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath at the police station – the legal limit is just 35 micrograms.

Ms Whiteley told the magistrates the defendant had only passed his driving test some six weeks before the incident.

Bennett is of previous good character.

‘He is not experienced when it comes to driving’

Chris McGrogan, defending, told the court Bennett has shown “quite a significant degree of remorse”.

He is a student at York College, where he has been working towards an apprenticeship to become a heating and plumbing engineer, and had celebrated his last day of college on the day of the offence.

A friend had asked Bennett for a lift home, which brought him to the area, but Mr McGrogan said Bennett panicked when the police tried to pull him over.

“He is a young man and not experienced when it comes to driving. He was not thinking clearly”, Mr McGrogan added.

The court heard, when he is not at college, Bennett spends the rest of his week working. However, the defendant is unsure if his employer will keep him on following the conviction, as he is required to drive a van to-and-from work.

Mr McGrogan also said Bennett is “absolutely desperate” to keep his apprenticeship, which he “worked hard to get”.

He added:

Bennett was banned from driving for 16 months, reduced by 16 weeks if he completes a drink-driving awareness course by a set date.

He was also ordered to pay a total of £611, comprising a £376 fine, a £150 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.