A learner driver dodged police while driving a van in Chelmsford with his female passengers screaming for him to stop.

Ashley Greenham finally smashed through M & G's carpark barrier and jumped out of the moving van leaving his passengers to crash into a brick wall causing over £5,000 worth of damage, Jude Durr, prosecuting, told Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday.

Greenham, 19, of Travers Way, Pitsea, received 18 months youth detention and a two year driving ban.

He admitted driving dangerously in the early hours May 3 this year.

He also pleaded guilty to driving while twice over the legal alcohol limit, failing to stop for police, driving otherwise than in accordance with his L licence and having no insurance. He was committed to the crown court for sentence by Chelmsford magistrates on May 10.

Mr Durr said a policeman in Duke Street at 2.30am heard a horn sound four times and saw a red van drive though a red traffic light. He alerted colleagues who stopped the van in Victoria Road.

Greenham got out of the driver's seat when asked but managed to get back in and drove off. There were two girls in the front passenger seat.

Greenham ignored police sirens and blue lights as he sped along New Street. He did not slow for speed bumps and caused danger to oncoming traffic.

Greenham evaded a police road block at a roundabout with the van rising onto two wheels.

Greenham continued along Parkway and tried to force a police car off the road before pulling violently into the nearside and driving down a cul de sac leading to an office carpark.

He smashed between the automatic barrier and a wall.

While the van was still moving Greenham jumped out leaving his passengers in the van hit the wall of a building. The girls suffered whiplash and were upset.

Greenham was on bail for an allegation of violence. He told police he had been to Zeus night club.

He panicked when he saw police because he should not have been driving the works van out of hours or unaccompanied.

Matthew Pardoe, mitigating, said: "This is just one offence in an already long catalogue."

Judge Jonathan Haworth told Greenham: "You behaved irresponsibly and put at risk your passengers, police and members of the public. It is only by chance that you did not kill anyone that evening."

Published Monday, June 16, 2003

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