A DRUG-fuelled teenage motorist drove at 100mph the wrong way down a road as he led police in a hair-raising pursuit, a court heard.

Bailey Dutton avoided immediate jail time after he sped off from officers and narrowly missed colliding with parked cars in a high-speed chase, the court was told.

The 18-year-old Barrow man was sentenced after he admitted several driving offences including driving dangerously and drug driving.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre told South Cumbria Magistrates' Court the incident happened shortly after midnight on March 4.

He said police were on patrol on Park Road when they saw Dutton driving a black Audi A4 past them before making off.

Dutton failed to stop for officers and led police in what was described as a 'high-risk' pursuit after he drove at 100mph in a 30mph the wrong way on a one-way road.

The court heard the motorist then drove at 70mph down residential streets in Ormsgill before coming to an abrupt stop down Chester Street, where the car had a mechanical failure.

Dutton, of New Leys, had no insurance and cocaine and cannabis breakdown products in his system.

In mitigation, Michael Graham suggested the offence was caused by Dutton's 'immaturity'.

He added: "He does regret the offence and he's reflected on his actions.

"He's kept himself to himself and he's kept his hand in his pocket and hasn't got himself into any more bother.

"He's 18 and he needs to get on with his life."

Mr Graham emphasised Dutton did not cause damage to property or injury to any person but accepted it was by 'good fortune rather than design'.

Magistrates sentenced the defendant to 24 weeks in prison but suspended it for two years saying there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

Dutton was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for 30 months.

Chair of the bench Jackie Forster told him: "It was a deliberate action on your part to ignore the rules of the road.

"You were impaired by drugs and it was a prolonged incident."