A HIT-AND-RUN teenage driver was told he was lucky not to have killed someone after ploughing into two pedestrians following a police chase in Worcester.

The 17-year-old crashed the Ford Mondeo into a parked car in Tunnel Hill, Worcester, knocked over a wall, injured two pedestrians and the front seat passenger who needed to have an operation in hospital.

To evade police the driver, who was already banned from driving when he got behind the wheel, fled through a stranger's house, pretending to be a police officer while a 'distressed' 67-year-old woman lay bleeding from a head wound caused by the crash.

Peter Jewell, the chairman of the magistrates bench, said: "I can tell you now you are very lucky that you're not here for causing death by dangerous driving or manslaughter or whatever else."

The front seat passenger suffered a dislocated elbow, multiple abrasions and needed a shoulder operation.

Another pedestrian, Jillian Change, suffered a soft tissue injury to her leg.

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Youth Court in Worcester yesterday (Wednesday) where he admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, failing to stop after an accident and obstructing a police constable following the crash on Thursday, May 21.

Mark Johnson, prosecuting, said the youth had already been before the court on February 23 for theft of a motor vehicle and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

At court on March 19 he had been banned from driving for eight months.

Mr Johnson said officers first became suspicious of the Mondeo in North Parade, Worcester, at around 10.15am because it showed no insurance and an expired MOT certificate. The officers followed the car into Castle Street, through The Tything, on to Chestnut Walk and Lansdowne Road before activating the blue lights.

The driver did not respond and the officer followed the car at a safe distance towards Rainbow Hill, the youth failing to deploy the brakes at the give way junction.

Mr Johnson said: "The officer says that, had any car been coming the other way, there clearly would have been a collision."

The chase continued into Tunnel Hill towards the crossroads with Holly Mount, with the youth's vehicle 'showing no signs slowing down for the crossroads'.

The youth travelled through another 'give way' junction at 43mph in a 30mph, again not slowing down, before accelerating to 55mph.

Mr Johnson added: "Only by luck was there not another vehicle coming the other way."

The officer pursuing was by this point so concerned she slowed down to a safe distance because she did not want to exacerbate the risks in a residential area.

The officer temporarily lost sight of the vehicle because on an incline but saw 100 metres in front of her the aftermath of the crash as the 17-year-old driver struck a parked Fiat Panda outside 169 Tunnel Hill.

Mr Johnson said: "The defendant lost control of the car and has run straight into the back of it, causing it to crumple and move forwards. The vehicle has then ploughed into a garden wall which has received extensive damage. Pedestrians have been struck while the vehicle was out of control."

One of the victims was 67-year-old Margaret Jones who was found lying on the pavement with a head injury.

Mr Johnson said: "The defendant then ran away from the scene. He appears to have got away by going through somebody's house. The occupant seems to be somewhat surprised. The defendant ran through the house indicating that he was the police."

The officer remained with the injured people but she put out a description of the youth so the pursuit could continue.

The defendant was spotted in Fairmount Road in Brickfields where he produced a driving licence that was not his and gave a false name to the police. He was then arrested at 10.42am.

Mr Johnson said: "It is a miracle he did not kill himself let alone anyone else. The risk to the public cannot be underestimated."

He described those injured at the scene as in 'considerable distress' and the scene as one of 'considerable destruction'.

Timothy Gascoyne, defending, said the youth's girlfriend was expecting their child and was 'keen to be there when the scans take place'.

He said: "You could lock him up. He's aware of that. He tells me he's no longer high risk. He wants to be out of trouble. We're not dealing with an adult. We're dealing with a youth."

He said the report suggested something 'more constructive' could be done with him.

The youth told the court: "I should not have done it. I think I may have done it because I did not have a stable life."

Although he had written a letter of apology to the court he had not written one to any of those he injured. He said: "I didn't get any address or anything.

Peter Jewell, the chairman of the magistrates bench, placed the youth on an intensive support and surveillance programme which will include a six month youth rehabilitation order.

He said: "If you hiccup once in simple colloquial language, you're going down. It's not 'if' it's 'for how long'. If you breach you will go down for over 12 months.

The youth will have to complete 20 hours a week of specified activities which will drop down to 15 hours per week after three months.

He was also placed under supervision for 18 months and placed on an electronically monitored curfew between 12.15pm and 5.30am for the next nine months, an order which was adjusted to allow him to work.

The youth was disqualified from driving for 18 months and ordered to pay compensation to Margaret Jones of £200 for her injuries and to Jillian Change of £125. He must also complete an extended driving retest.

They did not consider compensation for the passenger was appropriate.

They also ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.