A young driver led police on a chase where hit speeds of 70mph through the streets of Horwich town centre.

Luke Conway, of Spinning Meadow, Heaton, was spotted by police in a Volkswagen Passat at around 11.30am on November 7 last year on Chorley Old Road.

Bolton Crown Court heard when police approached he sped off and led officers on a chase.

He hit speeds of 70mph while driving through Horwich town centre and drove through red lights.

The pursuit went on for one and half miles.

Thomas Worsefall, prosecuting, said: “He turned onto Pioneer Street then he came into a long cul de sac.

“He then attempted to go down a footpath but it wasn’t wide enough for the vehicle.

“The defendant was arrested after a chase on foot which lasted around a minute.”

Police also found cannabis and an extendable baton inside the vehicle.

Conway, 21, appeared in court to be sentenced after admitting dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and with no insurance, possession of cannabis and having a weapon in a public place.

Laura Broome, defending, said he panicked when he was spotted by police and drove off.

She said the distance and speeds were not the worse seen by the courts.

Ms Broome added he suffered from attention deficit hyperactive disorder and oppositional defiance disorder.

She said he had smoked cannabis since he was aged 13 but was motivated to address this.

Recorder Andrew McLoughlin said there was no alternative to a custodial sentence.

He said: “Those who drive at 70 miles per hour in town centres in the mid morning, dangerously, being pursued by the police can only expect to receive a custodial sentence.”

He jailed him for a period of four months and banned him from the roads for 26 months.

He told Conway he would be under supervision for a period of a year after a release and added: "If you want to desire to ride yourself of cannabis the probation will point you in the right direction."