Alexander Street, 18, who has not passed his driving test, was over the legal alcohol limit when he tried to flee from pursuing police officers.

He drove a speeds of up to 75mph along Hastings seafront, where the limit is 30mph, before crashing into a parked car.

Street suffered a broken collar bone in the accident and his two passengers were slightly hurt.

At Hove Crown Court Street admitted dangerous driving as well as driving while over the legal alcohol limit, driving not in accordance with a provisional licence and having no insurance.

The court heard police were called to a disturbance outside the Greenrooms nightclub, in Priory Road, Hastings, in the early hours of November 20 last year when they saw Street drive across a road junction without stopping.

Marcus Fletcher, prosecuting, said the Fiat Seicento was driving at high speed and narrowly missed hitting roadside railings.

The police followed the car as it headed for the seafront where the vehicle crossed over to the wrong side of the road.

Officers estimated the car was travelling at speeds of up to 75mph, narrowly missing parked cars, as Street drove towards Bexhill.

The driver failed to stop when the police turned on their blue strobe lights.

The court heard Street nearly lost control of the car as it sped around a corner with one wheel off the ground then moments later ploughed into a parked VW Polo.

A test showed Street, of St Phillips Avenue, Eastbourne, was over the legal drink drive limit.

Daniel Frier, defending, said the teenager had been pressured by his friends to drive that night.

He said: "He was persuaded to drive by friends because they wanted to go to a club. Later he received a call from them saying they were being chased and he got in his vehicle and went to assist them.

"He realised the police car was present and completely panicked."

Mr Frier said Street, who was suffering from depression and smoking cannabis at the time, decided not to stop because a month earlier he had been given a conditional discharge by a court for possession of the drug.

He said: "He takes full responsibility for this offence. With the benefit of hindsight he fully accepts the risk to his passengers, himself, the pursuing police officers and members of the public.

"He is deeply remorseful. This has acted as a wake-up call. He realises what a stupid an incredibly dangerous and impulsive action he took that night."

Judge David Rennie sentenced him to eight months jail suspended for 18 months.
He must also abide by a four-month curfew between 8pm and 6am and was banned from driving for 12 months.

The judge told him he accepted the behaviour was out of character and he was suffering from depression and anxiety at the time.

He said: "You only broke your collar bone, which I am sure hurt, but you could so easily have killed someone that night.

"While still young and immature, sadly you did not find the strength to resist the pressure of the idiots who persuaded you to get behind the wheel.

"You have come close to going straight to prison and I hope you have learnt your lesson."