A car with a smoking front wheel was followed by police from two forces along lanes in North Worcestershire, a court heard.

Sean Tidmarsh was tracked by West Midlands officers to the outskirts of Bromsgrove.

The chase was then taken up by a West Mercia patrol car and ended near the town centre, said Paul Whitfield, prosecuting.

By this time, the tyre had shredded and the Montego was being driven on the wheel rim.

The car was driven at speeds up to 50mph in 30mph areas, crossed double white lines on a blind bend and went over traffic lights on red.

Tidmarsh, aged 18, of Austin Road, Charford, Bromsgrove, was sentenced to detention for seven months and banned from driving for two years after admitting two charges of dangerous driving.

The second offence, committed on February 12 this year -- just three weeks after the first -- involved him driving at night round a deserted supermarket car park in Bromsgrove.

Mr Whitfield said Tidmarsh's Metro was not in a roadworthy condition, with holes in the floor and a rear wheel leaning at an angle.

But he ignored a police warning not to drive and used the car park like a "slalom course." He drove without lights at speeds of 50mph, sometimes in reverse, and almost tipped the car over in handbrake turns.

Mr William Rickarby, defending, said Tidmarsh had learned his lesson and had not driven since.

But Judge David Matthews said the lives of other road users and the police had been put at risk by his driving.