A TEENAGER risked his and other motorists’ lives by driving the wrong way on the A34 during a police chase.

Nineteen-year-old Joseph Holden, who admitted dangerous driving, drove the wrong way around a roundabout before “bouncing along” the embankment of the dual carriageway.

Police gave chase after failing to stop a Ford Fiesta containing three passengers in Didcot at about 4.20pm on April 14.

Paul Harrison, prosecuting, told Oxford Crown Court: “The officers pursued the vehicle towards the A34 junction, where there is quite a large, busy roundabout.

“Approaching the roundabout it did, at first, seem like the driver wanted to comply and pulled into the side of the road, but almost immediately drove off again.

“He then drove the wrong way around the roundabout, forcing other cars to take evasive action.

“The car then drove north up the A34 on the southbound carriageway.

“The time was 4.30pm on a Sunday, so there was quite a lot of traffic.

“He was seen by a police vehicle driving on the side of the road on the embankment, bouncing up and down.

“This continued for about two to three minutes on the A34, going in the wrong direction, when he crashed into a crash barrier and brought the vehicle to a sudden stop.

“Four people got out and Mr Holden was quite distinctive, as he had a crutch.”

Holden was arrested and at the police station he refused to provide a breath specimen for analysis.

The court heard officers had initially been called to search for a group of men who had left a pub without paying.

Holden – formerly of Headington, Oxford, but now of no fixed address – also admitted driving without a licence, without insurance and while disqualified.

Kate O’Raghallaigh, defending, said “thankfully” no one was injured in the chase.

She said: “He was diagnosed with autism at a young age and had problems throughout his schooling.”

Judge Patrick Eccles said: “This was an astonishingly dangerous thing to do. And you have a most appalling record of driving offences.

“Whatever difficulties you may have experienced in your life, there is no excuse for driving in this way."

Speaking after Tuesday’s hearing, Pc Andy Wickens, of the Abingdon traffic police unit, said: “The driving displayed is the worst I have ever seen in my career, and that was echoed by all those officers involved. Only by pure luck was a serious collision or worse avoided.

“Holden had no regard for anyone else on the road or in the car he was driving.”

Holden was jailed for 15 months for dangerous driving, a further three months for refusing to provide a specimen and four months to run at the same time for driving while disqualified. No further penalty was given for the other offences.