A TEENAGED girl who was a passenger in a stolen car that sparked a high-speed police chase across South Somerset which ended in Yeovil has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Chloe Goodes was on bail awaiting sentence in relation to that incident when she attacked a female police officer, biting her on the arm, after being arrested again less than two weeks later.

The defendant was with a male co-defendant, Jay Hotson, when they were spotted by police in the Axminster area in an Audi convertible they had stolen during a burglary at a Crewkerne garage in the early hours of the morning.

The car careered along the A30 at breakneck speeds of up to 100mph before racing through Crewkerne town centre while overtaking other vehicles.

On its way towards Yeovil the driver, Hotson, raised his hand and stuck up two fingers to the pursuing police car and then threw a glass bottle at their vehicle.

After running over a police Stinger device, they continued towards Yeovil, overtaking cars in the path of oncoming vehicles and then drove through the town centre with three flat tyres and parts of the wheels flying off.

They eventually came to a halt after trying to drive through two queues of stationary traffic on the Reckleford dual carriageway and making a run for it.

Police detained Goodes straight away and eventually caught Hotson after he fled the scene towards Yeovil fire station.

Goodes, 19, of St Leonards Road, Honiton, pleaded guilty to joint charges of entering Rivermead Garage at Crewkerne on February 24 and stealing keys to an Audi A3.

She also admitted allowing herself to be carried in a stolen car after which an accident occurred and damage was caused to four other vehicles.

Prosecutor Suzie Butler said that on February 23 the owner of Rivermead Recovery was notified of an alarm activation at the premises at 3.30am.

He found a rear window had been smashed and a vehicle was missing along with the keys.

“CCTV at the premises caught a male and female on the site, and on February 24 the car was spotted in the Axminster area and then exited the B3137 towards Crewkerne,” she said.

“There was an initial pursuit and police illuminated their blue lights and sirens but the pair sped off towards Roundham travelling at speeds of up to 80mph.

“They drove through until East Coker driving at speeds of 60mph in a 30mph limit and a police Stinger device was laid in West Coker near the traffic lights and all the Audi’s tyres were stung.

“The vehicle was then followed through Yeovil town centre but failed to stop and then went onto the Reckleford dual carriageway and forced its way through a number of cars causing damage to them all.”

The driver exited and was pursued on foot and Goodes was arrested soon afterwards on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and when she was interviewed she made no comment.

The court was told that after being bailed following the car chase police received a call on March 4 about a car that was being driven erratically in Yeovil.

Goodes was arrested and put in the back of a police vehicle when she started to headbutt the rear passenger window. She then tried to kick it and shouted: “I will headbutt you in a minute”.

“As the officer was trying to stop her from banging her head the defendant then bit down on her right forearm, biting hard until the officer had to pull her head away,” said Miss Butler.

“Goodes was restrained again and continued to be abusive and was also significantly under the influence of alcohol at the time.”

Ligeia Girard, defending, said that Goodes was suffering with depression and bipolar and her mental health problems had played a significant part in her offending.

“She was not charged alone with these matters and the driver of the stolen car has been sent to Taunton Crown Court to be sentenced,” she said.

“She was following this other person who was not very good for her and is on medication for her depression and also has an appointment with Talking Therapies. She is very fragile.”

The magistrates told Goodes that the police pursuit involved very high speeds, involved a high risk of danger to the public and caused a high degree of damage. The other incident was a “deliberate attack” on a public servant.

They sentenced her to a total of 12 weeks in prison but said they were prepared to suspend it for the next two years as she was only lightly convicted. During that time she must comply with a 30 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement with the Probation Service.

She was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to the police officer and £500 to the owner of the Audi. A £115 victim surcharge was also imposed but no costs were requested.