A teenage driver who fled his car after a crash, leaving an elderly widow injured and trapped in her smoke-filled vehicle, has been convicted for his part in the smash.

Gavin Hewitt, 18, of Greystones Drive, Bracken Bank, Keighley, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking when he appeared before Bingley Magistrates last Thursday.

Hilary Reece, prosecuting, told magistrates the aggravating features had been the fact that the car was driven dangerously and that an accident occurred at Oxenhope, causing 74-year-old Audrey Cox to be injured and damage to two vehicles.

Hewitt also admitted charges of driving while disqualified and having no insurance.

Magistrates ruled that the teenager should be sentenced for the offences at Bradford Crown Court, but he is to face trial at Bingley Magistrates Court after pleading not guilty to a charge of assaulting PC David Boulder with intent to resist lawful apprehension.

Mrs Reece told magistrates that the Ford Mondeo had been taken without its owner's consent from Halifax Road, Cullingworth, during the early hours of June 12.

At about noon that day an officer went to investigate after police received reports of a car being driven erratically at Penistone Hill Country Park.

Mrs Reece said: "The car, which contained three men, made off from the scene at great speed. The officer attempted to follow but was some distance behind and lost sight of it.

"A couple of minutes later he found it on Shaw Lane, it having collided with a blue VW Polo.

"The occupants of the Mondeo, including the defendant, had made off, leaving the complainant trapped in her car, which was full of smoke, suffering serious injuries.''

She told the court that Mrs Cox, who was having difficulty breathing and had to be cut free by firefighters, suffered four broken ribs, facial lacerations which required 15 stitches, a suspected bone fracture and extensive bruising.

She has since been discharged from Airedale General Hospital.

Mrs Reece said Hewitt had admitted taking the car, driving away from police at speeds of up to 60mph, driving in the middle of the road, losing control on a bend, colliding with the Polo and running away from the scene.

He was remanded in custody until August 8.

* Last week, 18-year-olds Adam Robinson, of Union House Lane, Clayton Heights, Bradford, and Christopher Dickson, of Drewry Road, Highfield, Keighley, who were both passengers in the Ford Mondeo, were committed to crown court for sentencing, on a date to be fixed, after pleading guilty to aggravated vehicle taking. Dickson has also admitted possessing cannabis.