A TEENAGE driver already banned from the roads who led police on a ten-mile chase has avoided jail.

John Thomson, 18, was spotted driving a Renault Clio erratically by a police officer in Clarke’s Road, Dovercourt, just after 3.30pm.

The constable followed Thompson and indicated for him to pull over, but he was ignored and Thomson carried onto nearby Parkeston Road, and then the A120 towards Ramsey.

As he was not pursuit-trained the officer stopped following and called for back-up from a sergeant who then took up the chase towards Mistley on rural Clacton Road.

Thomson - who had a friend in the car at the time - reached speeds of up to 80 miles per hour on the road and dangerously overtook at least eight cars until officers pulled him over.

When he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court, the father of two admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Following the incident in July, DNA samples also led to him being charged for a burglary on a beach hut in Wrabness in 2016 where nothing was taken but significant damage caused.

Thomson, who has never held a full driving licence but had already been disqualified because of totting up too many points, admitted all the charges.

Ann Fraser, mitigating said: “He has got genuine learning difficulties, he is only just 18 and has special needs.

“The car has been scrapped and he now uses a pedal cycle to get around.”

Judge David Turner QC handed Thomson, of Stour Close, Dovercourt, a four-month jail term, suspended for two years and slapped a three-month curfew on him.

He must also attend 30 rehabilitation requirement days and was banned from the roads for 15 months.

Judge Turner said: “You were steaming around the roads and risked your life, your friend’s life and the life of other road users.

“It is difficult to know what was going on in your mind. It is a shameful course of conduct.

“You have let down your family and let down your two little children.

“Being a father brings a responsibility and if you want to keep a role in their life you better get a grip and face up to it.

“Now it will be next to impossible for you to get insurance.”

“You also got drawn into a burglary which no doubt caused a great deal of upset and a £624 bill.”