A MAN who led police on a chase before driving the wrong way along a Southampton road was handed in by his mother.

Lucas Joel Hardiman drove “unambiguously dangerously” after he was spotted by police outside Southampton railway station.

The 19-year-old was driving a grey Polo, which an officer attempted to stop, but Hardiman pulled off swerving around another car at a set of traffic lights.

Winchester Crown Court heard “because of the manoeuvres that he had done going through the lights” Hardiman ended up on the wrong side of Mountbatten Way.

Prosecuting, Saul Herman said the officer followed Hardiman on the correct side of the road, in parallel, as he drove at speeds above 50mph. The limit is 40mph.

“There was a police car travelling in the correct direction on the eastbound carriageway which had to swerve to avoid a collision,” Mr Herman said.

At the first junction, Paynes Road, Hardiman pulled off and collided with a kerb.

“The police took a few minutes catching up with up with him. The defendant and any other occupants had fled leaving the car locked.” Mr Herman said that Hardiman had locked the car to “evade detection for whatever reason”.

The court was told the next day his mother contacted police and an interview was arranged with Hardiman.

In mitigation Joshua Happe said: “This is indeed a serious matter. Mr Hardiman himself always sought to take full account of that.”

He continued: “He was frank, open and honest about the fact that he caused risk and danger.

"Of course, he has engaged here in reckless behaviour.”

Mr Happe said that Hardiman offending “has the hallmarks of immature behaviour”.

Hardiman, of Sower Hill Farm, Uffington, Oxfordshire, is currently on an apprenticeship and will be going to university in Winchester in September.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving during an earlier hearing at Basingstoke Magistrates Court.

Recorder, Malcolm Gibney said: “His mother has a responsible attitude and made him turn himself in.”

He disqualified Hardiman from driving for 18 months and handed him a 12-month community order.

He must complete 150 hours unpaid work.