A teenage Land Rover thief caught after a police chase through Dartford has been locked up for a year.

Johnathon Denton, 19, of Elm Road, Dartford, was spotted by police at the wheel of the Defender in the early hours of January 4.

The vehicle had been stolen a week earlier from a veterinary centre in Wrotham Road, Gravesend.

Denton, who was banned from driving at the time, sped off along Princes Road and jumped red traffic lights at the junction with Shepherd’s Lane.

Prosecutor Gareth Nicholl told Maidstone Crown Court the pursuit continued into residential streets.

He said Denton narrowly missed a parked car and braked sharply with the intention of causing the police car to crash into it.

“He then turned back into Princes Road but failed to negotiate the bend and crashed into railings.”

Denton escaped on foot but had been recognised by one of the officers and was later arrested.

He claimed he had been at home all evening playing his computer.

Denton later admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified and without insurance.

The court heard Denton was banned from driving for 12 months in June last year after failing to provide a specimen.

Other previous convictions include theft, burglary and taking a vehicle without consent.

Passing a sentence of 12 months in a young offenders’ institution, Judge Andrew Patience QC told Denton his bad record was an aggravating feature.

“This was a short piece of driving but nevertheless it was very dangerous... and could have easily caused injury to an innocent member of the public.

“You were showing off and you panicked when you realised the police were on to you.”

Philip Sinclair, defending, said Denton had not stolen the Land Rover, which was worth more than £12,000.

He added that the 100 days Denton had served on remand “had brought him up short” and urged the court to impose a non-custodial sentence.

“He really is a young man who has learnt his lesson,” Mr Sinclair added.

Denton was also disqualified from driving for two years.