A YOUTH involved in a high speed police chase has been sentenced to 12 months' detention.

Martin Rigby was told by Judge Sean Duncan that he had been involved in the sort of driving where someone could easily have been killed.

Rigby, 19, of Alt, Hough Green, Widnes, who had pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle driving, was banned from driving for two years.

Debra Birrel, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that police spotted Rigby driving a stolen Ford Escort at a service station near Sherdley Park, St Helens, in the early hours of November 2.

He accelerated away towards Marshalls Cross Road and as police followed along Jubits Lane towards Widnes he reached 85mph.

As he drove along Cronton Road, he turned his lights off and drove erratically using both sides of the road, she said.

It then suddenly swerved on to the wrong side of the road and collided side on with a barrier with a road island.

He started to run off but was detained after a struggle which police had to use CS gas.

Defence council Mary Crean said that the car had been stolen before Rigby came across it and he used a screwdriver to start the ignition.

He said: "He accepts the consequences of his behaviour could have been catastrophic.

"He is remorseful about what he did and accepts the stupidity of his actions."

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