A 16-year-old boy was today awaiting sentence for leading police on a seven-and a-half-mile car chase through the suburbs of York.

The boy was arrested after police used a "stinger" to stop a car in New Lane, Huntington at about midnight on last Wednesday.

When he appeared before York Youth Court, he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on Haxby Road, York Road and Towthorpe Road, failing to stop when ordered to do so by a police officer and driving without insurance or a licence.

Justices banned the boy from east York from driving all cars, motorcycles and mopeds and adjourned his case for a pre-sentence report. The length of his driving ban will be decided later.

Prosecutor Jane Chadwick said the offences were serious as they involved a police pursuit of more than seven-and-a-half miles between 11.30 pm and midnight on October 11.

A "stinger" is a police device covered in spikes put in the path of a car to puncture its tyres. Officers need special permission to use it.