A joyrider put his life at risk when he tried to escape from police by running up a live railway track, a court heard.

Toby Earnshaw-Glazier had sped through red traffic lights, driven on the wrong side of the road and shot up Sittingbourne High Street the wrong way.

Prosecutor David Barnes said the 20-year-old was speeding in a 30mph limit in a BMW in Murston Road shortly after midday on Sunday, August 31 last year when police indicated to him to stop.

He then hurtled along Swan Street and Canterbury Road ignoring red traffic lights and driving on the wrong side of the road.

Earnshaw-Glazier, who had a front seat passenger, drove against the one-way system in the High Street.

“I expect you are quite shocked by thinking what might have happened to you by running on the railway” - Judge Andrew Goymer

He continued along St Michael’s Road and West Street where a police stinger device punctured one of the tyres.

Prosecutor David Barnes said the driver then “decamped and jumped onto the railway line”. He ran along the track but was arrested near Waterloo Road.

The BMW had been taken without the owner’s authority.

He had a number of convictions and had only been released from a seven-month sentence at the beginning of August.

Earnshaw-Glazier, of Ceres Court, Eagles Close, Murston, admitted dangerous driving and having no insurance.

Knowing he was facing custody, he asked for his bail to be withdrawn at a previous hearing.

Judge Andrew Goymer said: “He put himself at risk when he ran along the railway line and could have been electrocuted or hit by a train.”

Sentencing Earnshaw-Glazier to 12 months youth custody and banning him from driving for three years, he continued: “This was a very bad piece of driving. It was in the middle of the day on a Sunday when a lot of people are out and about on leisure pursuits.

“It involved high speed in an urban area. Even when the police used a stinger to bring you to a halt you continued to try to make your escape.”

The judge added: “I expect you are quite shocked by thinking what might have happened to you by running on the railway.”

Earnshaw-Glazier will have to take an extended driving test before his licence is returned.