A TEENAGER who drove a van while stolen scaffolding poles were thrown from the vehicle into the path of chasing police cars could be facing jail, a judge warned this week.

Damien Codona was pursued by officers after they spotted two men loading poles into a truck - he drove the vehicle away while another man off loaded the poles to help with their escape.

Several witnesses saw police cars having to avoid the poles, and the van was stopped when police used a stinger device.

Appearing at Lincoln Crown Court, 18-year-old Codona admitted driving dangerously on the A17 between Moulton Seas End and Sutton Bridge, and stealing the poles on May 17.

Codona, of St Paul’s Close, Gorefield, was made subject to one of the first drinking banning orders in the UK earlier this year. That order banned Codona from all pubs or clubs in Wisbech town centre for two years, and kept him out of the town in the evening.

He was warned by Judge Michael Heath this week: The fact that I grant you bail does not mean that you will not be sent to a young offenders’ institution.”

James Cleary, prosecuting, said the police gave chase after seeing two men putting large quantities of scaffolding poles into the van.

“Codona was driving the truck as it was pursued by the police,” added Mr Cleary. “One of the passengers got into the back of the truck and began throwing scaffolding poles into the path of the pursuing police vehicles.”

When questioned by police, Codona claimed he was the person on the back of the van - but he later pleaded guilty to being behind the wheel.

Michael Proctor, mitigating, said Codona denied deliberately driving the van at a police officer at the end of the chase. The court was told Codona is currently the subject of an unmonitored home curfew.

Codona was granted bail for the preparation of a probation report, and is due to be sentenced on 3 September.