A young motorist led police on a high speed chase - just days after an earlier crash.

Steven Cherry, 21, was sentenced at the city's crown court having admitted seven separate motoring offences, including two counts of dangerous driving.

Prosecutor Michael Maher told the court Cherry was spotted driving a Mazda 323 through the "densely populated" Raffles housing estate at about 10am on November 29.

"The car wing mirrors were hanging off and one of the wheels was flat and flapping around under the wheel arch," said Mr Maher.

Cherry was being chased by a female driver, who blocked his path.

"He spun his car around and drove straight over an area of grass, overturning in a ditch," said the prosecutor.

Cherry, of Borland Avenue, Botcherby, was forced to jump out of the way as the other vehicle was driven at him. Police interviewed him before releasing him on bail.

Less than two weeks later, at just before 5am on December 8, Cherry was seen driving a Vauxhall Corsa along Newbiggin Road, on the outskirts of Carlisle.

"He was travelling in excess of 80mph. The road conditions were wet, it was raining, it was dark," said Mr Maher.

Cherry lost control of the car, which left the road and smashed into a barrier. He later told police he had been "goaded" by someone in the car.

Gemma Maxwell, defending, said Cherry suffered from learning difficulties and had a "mental age of six years old".

"He is especially easily-led, he is suggestible and easily influenced," said Ms Maxwell.

"Some of the offending behaviour on both of these occasions - rightly or wrongly - can be put down to that."

She added: "He knows it is luck rather than judgement that nobody was more seriously hurt."

Having heard Cherry was "vulnerable to custody", Judge Peter Hughes QC suspended an 18-month prison sentence for two years. He imposed 200 hours unpaid work and a rehabilitation requirement.

"If you commit any further offences during the period of suspension then to prison you will go," the judge warned.

Cherry was also banned from driving for two years and must complete an extended test before gaining his full licence.