A TEENAGER led police on a 12-mile chase after his mum told him not to come home following an argument, a court heard.

The 16-year-old was spotted speeding at 50 miles per hour in a 30 zone, driving the wrong side of keep left bollards on the A414 Maldon Road, and crashing into two parked cars, Chelmsford Youth Court heard.

Tamzin Sharp, prosecuting, told the court he was followed after being seen at Wycke Hill in Maldon driving at around 50mph at 1.10am on April 22.

He eventually came to a stop in Chelmsford after hitting two parked cars. When police searched the teenager, from Chelmsford, he had a small amount of cannabis.

At court last Friday, the boy admitted failing to stop the car when directed by police, driving without due care and attention, possessing a controlled drug, driving without insurance, driving without a licence, failing to stop after a road accident and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

Hannah Sutton, mitigating, said the teenager’s actions took place after a family argument.

She said: “In the last 18 months he has had to bear witness to matters at home. These difficulties have led him to having a lack of structure and relationship with authority.

“This isn’t something he would usually be involved in. Unfortunately on this day there had been an argument in the family home. His mother told him to get out and he said he would be back in a minute, but his mum told him not to come back, which she regrets.”

Miss Sutton said the boy did not submit to the blood test as he was scared of needles.

She added: “In terms of his personal development it’s just him and his mother at home and there have been no further incidents.

“He would welcome any intervention the court would deem appropriate. The focus is there and the want to do well is there.”

Chairman of the bench Susan Greenwood gave the teenager a nine-month youth rehabilitation order for possessing a controlled drug, failing to stop af- ter the accident and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

He was also disqualified from driving for two years for failing to provide a specimen, and had to pay £20 to fund victim services.

There was no separate penalty for the other offences.