Two reckless young motorists have narrowly escaped jail after being hauled before magistrates for a litany of driving offences.

Lee Palmer, 20, of Cotlandswick, London Colney, was committed to prison for eight weeks suspended for 12 months, was banned from driving for 18 months, and was ordered to pay £85 costs and £115 towards victim services.

St Albans magistrates heard how he had been driving a Ford Fiesta dangerously on Harpenden Road, St Albans on November 5, not only while using a handheld mobile phone and without insurance or a licence, but also under the influence of cannabis.

He then refused to stop when required to by a police constable in uniform in Waverley Road.

Jake Matthew, 23, of Hazelwood Drive, St Albans, was committed to prison for 12 weeks suspended for 12 months, ordered to participate in 19 sessions of a Thinking Skills Programme, instructed to carry out 300 hours unpaid community work, was banned from driving for 18 months, and ordered to pay £100 compensation and £115 towards victim services.

Magistrates sitting in St Albans heard he had been driving a Seat Leon dangerously in Dellfield, St Albans, causing damage to a BMW X5 and failing to stop, obstructing a police constable in the execution of his duty, before assaulting a police constable in the execution of her duty, all on February 22.