TWO joy riders who led police on a 13-and-a-half mile high-speed chase have been sent down.

Adam Lewis, 18, took to the wheel of a Jaguar and helped by accomplice, Lee Jones, 33, evaded capture across the outskirts of Wrexham even when police stingers were thrown down to stop him in the stolen vehicle.

Eventually they were brought to a halt in Wrexham town centre when a pursuing police patrol was forced to ram the high-performance vehicle.

Mold Crown Court heard teenager Lewis was a thrill seeker who had been motivated by boredom, but Judge Niclas Parry told Jones he had encouraged the younger man’s actions by getting into the passenger seat.

Lewis was sent to a young offenders’ institution for a year, while Jones received a six-month prison sentence.

Barrister Michael Whitty, prosecuting, told the court Gareth Griffiths reported his Jaguar stolen from his driveway in Coedpoeth and realised the keys had been taken from his property on November 15 last year.

Within an hour the police were tracking the car which was seen overtaking five or six vehicles and taking a roundabout on the wrong side of the carriageway.

On Beech Avenue in Bradley the Jaguar struck the wing mirror of a police car as it drove by.

Police pursued as the car sped off in the direction of Cefn-y-Bedd at speeds up to 80mph and 90mph.

It raced through road works under a 30mph zone and continued to evade police capture, despite attempts to use stingers which instead ended up disabling some of the police patrol cars.

The duo were finally halted in Salop Road after the police were forced into a “tactical collision” to bring the vehicle to a stop.

Lewis was arrested and admitted he had taken cocaine.

Jones raced off, but was caught by a chasing police officer

Both joy riders were unscathed and the Jaguar was undamaged but the police car was damaged in the ramming movement and an officer was injured.

Lewis, of no fixed abode, admitted aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving as well as other minor motoring offences.

Jones, of Meadway Close, Gwersyllt, admitted aggravated vehicle taking.

Defence barrister Andrew Green said Lewis had the potential to be a “valuable member of society” and “presented as pleasant and polite” when he was not with his peers.

“These offences are borne out of boredom and thrill-seeking,” said Mr Green.

“One of the reasons for his recent offending was that he wasn’t living at home and his mother had thrown him out.

"He was sofa surfing and using drugs, but before that he had held down a job with a large sports retailer.”

Simon Rogers, defending, said Jones’ best mitigation was his early guilty plea and there was no suggestion that he was involved in the burglary and theft of the Jaguar.

Judge Niclas Parry told Lewis, who he also banned from the road for two years: “This was an appalling case of driving which put people’s lives at risk.”

Jones received a 15-month driving ban and the judge told him: “Young thrill-seekers are encouraged by those who choose to drive with them.”