A DRIVER'S "stupidity" left two people injured in a crash after police chased him through Chislehurst.

Transport sub-contractor Timothy Dale, aged 45, of Eden Way, Beckenham, ran away after the crash.

He may have had a pint of beer before the accident but was rushing to see his mother in hospital, Croydon Crown Court heard on February 11.

Prosecuting, Amanda Tedore said it was late at night on April 25 when a police officer saw an Audi coming towards his patrol car on the wrong side of the road.

"He stopped to avoid a collision, then turned around and went after the Audi," Miss Tedore told the jury.

"He lost sight of it but it was spotted again by an off-duty policeman."

It turned left into Chislehurst High Street at 60 miles an hour and ploughed into a Nissan. The Nissan was wrecked and its driver suffered a broken ankle. A passenger had back and neck injuries.

The Audi carried on before colliding into a Golf. Dale got out of his car 75m up the road but was traced to his home by the car's registration number.

Miss Tedore told the jury Dale was "drunk and his speech slurred" when police arrived.

Defending, Jason Bartfeld said Dale had just been told his mother had been taken to hospital.

"With panic and stupidity he tried to rush to the hospital. He might have had a pint in the afternoon but no more than that," he added.

Dale pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and will be sentenced on March 11.