A VERDICT of accidental death has been returned on a teenage joyrider who died from multiple injuries behind the wheel of a stolen car when it crashed in Hampton, Evesham.

John Smith, aged 14, of Malvern, collided with three vehicles after miles of "erratic driving" on the A44 Worcester to Evesham road on Saturday, September 1, 2001.

Stourport coroners' court heard how Smith, joined by another youth, reached speeds of up to 80mph before the fatal crash in the stolen Ford escort.

Witness Nigel Lee described how he was forced to swerve into a roundabout after the car came up behind him.

He said: "They had already clipped me once before they cut across me. I went into the island to avoid them." Mr Lee then contacted the police, following the incident on Temeside Way.

April Millington told the court how she witnessed the car travelling at high speed in Pershore High Street.

She said: "It was bizarre, they were just about peering above the dashboard. I felt frightened when they went through."

A police 4x4 vehicle began following the car through Pershore. Inspector Mark Ellis from West Mercia police said the police vehicle was travelling about 110 yards behind the escort at around 50mph when it collided with a Mitsubishi Shogun.

Insp Ellis said: "We kept well back at a suitable distance, bearing in mind the age of the driver." He stated the situation never developed into a pursuit.

The other boy named as 'K' for legal reasons, survived the collision because the driver's side bore the brunt of the accident. Although he said in a statement that he believed they had been chased by the police, the jury indicated they were satisfied the police were simply following the vehicles.

The court heard how Smith had run off from a care home with the other boy the previous evening. This was in direct defiance of a police curfew order. The 14-year-old drove the car from Malvern along the A449 towards the outskirts of Worcester. Witnesses saw him 'driving very erratically' and 'nearly clipping kerbs' along the route.

After three days, the jury returned a verdict of accidental death.