A TEENAGE driver who crashed while being pursued by police and later died has been described as a popular member of the community.

Gipsy Jimmy Smith, 16, from Swanley, died of severe head injuries two days after the white Ford Escort van he was driving collided with a road sign in Sevenoaks Way, St Paul's Cray.

The van driven by the teeanger, also known as Sweet Lip, had reportedly been stolen from a car park in Sycamore Drive, Swanley, in the early hours of Wednesday, December 20.

Just after 1am, the teenager lost control and was thrown from the vehicle. He died at King's College Hospital, south London, on December 22.

A passenger who was travelling with him was discharged from Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup.

An inquest was opened and adjourned by coroner Dr Roy Palmer, at Croydon

Coroner's Court, today.

Paul Craig, deputy senior investigator from the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), told the hearing: "The driver would appear to have lost control and there was a collision."

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's professional standards department

are investigating the crash and conduct of the Kent Police officers involved in the chase, under the management of the IPCC.

Steve Hanks, the area youth and community worker based at The Junction youth

centre in St Mary's Road, Swanley, said: "Jimmy was a popular member at the

youth centre. We send our deepest condolences to the family and if there is

anything we can do to help them, we will be at hand."

The inquest will resume before a jury following the crash investigation,

which is expected to take several months.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S SWANLEY MESSENGER