A 20-YEAR-OLD was chased by police for 20 miles at speeds of up to 115mph, a court heard yesterday.

It emerged at Teesside Crown Court yesterday that the man had spent £7,500 on the car from criminal injuries compensation paid out in a bullying case.

Paul Skidmore, of Alston Street, Hartlepool, admitted dangerous driving.

Patricia Mancina, prosecuting, said that the police tried to stop him after noticing something unusual about his car's rear lights.

He drove on and a high-speed chase ensued. Skidmore told police later that he had panicked because he did not have any insurance.

Paul Newcombe, defending, said his client had been bullied throughout his life, and the car had been his only means of getting away from the area where he was bullied.

Skidmore was placed on a 12-month community rehabilitation order, banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to sit an extended driving test.