A TEENAGER tearaway who was in the rear of a stolen car when it crashed following a police chase has been sent to a young offender institute for 12 months.

Dylan Turner was one of five people in the stolen car when it crashed in Hartlepool on October 15 last year. The driver has never been caught after fleeing the scene.

The Fiat 500 was spotted driving at speeds of up to 90mph in a 30mph zone and one of the passengers shone a green laser pen into the police car to try and distract the driver.

Teesside Crown Court head how the 19-year-old also pleaded guilty to theft from a motor vehicle on March 9 when he stole a coat and bag from the unlocked car.

Ashleigh Leach, prosecuting, said Turner, of Garside Walk, Hartlepool, also admitted stealing a motorbike on April 3 which was later recovered.

She told the court that he has 13 convictions for 29 offences, including previous thefts from vehicles.

Miss Leach said the owner of the stolen car had been left out of pocket following her insurance claim and lost an umbrella belonging to her mother who had passed away.

Andrew Teate, representing Turner, said his client was not involved in the theft of the car but accepted he knew the car didn't belong to the driver who picked him up.

Judge Stephen Ashurst said: "Having regard to your long history of offending and the nature of these offences – the overall sentence is 12 months."

Turner was banned from driving for 18 months.