A teenager who led police on a car chase has been disqualified from driving.

Daniel Trusler, 18, who only holds a provisional licence, sped around the Broadwater area of Worthing on January 3 after refusing to stop.

Magistrates heard yesterday police started following his Ford Sierra in Queen Street just after 8.30pm.

They put on sirens to get him to pull over but he sped away and, during the pursuit, drove at 50mph in 30mph residential areas.

Trusler, of Walnut Tree Way, Durrington, also jumped a red light, ignored a no entry sign and caused several cars to swerve out of his way. Police eventually arrested him after he abandoned the car in Rectory Gardens.

Catherine Davies, prosecuting, said: "When he was arrested he assessed that his driving had been stupid and that he had been reckless and dangerous."

Philip Long, defending, said: "This was a stupid offence and one which could have had calamitous effects. It spring-boarded into a much more serious series of events as a result of not thinking properly."

Sentencing, Deputy District Judge Irena Ray-Crosby said: "This was the most appalling piece of driving. You could have killed yourself and other people."

Trusler, who had pleaded guilty to five driving offences, including dangerous driving and failing to stop for police at an earlier hearing, was disqualified from driving for 18 months and sentenced to an 18-month community rehabilitation order.

He was also ordered to pay £118 costs.