Boy racer shunted family into a bush while speeding 'like a bullet' towards them

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news

A boy racer “came close to almost killing” a family of three after he shunted their car into a bush while speeding towards them “like a bullet,” a court heard.

Stephen Hill drove on the wrong side of the road and narrowly missed hitting a police car as he hit estimated speeds of up to 80mph on busy Northumberland streets.

The 20-year-old, who was 19 at the time, left a family with “whiplash type injuries” after crashing into them at speed in Bedlington.

The victim, who had been out with his partner and 17-year-old stepdaughter, said they had been left “traumatised” by the collision and that was “still in pain” more than six months later.

Now Hill has avoided being locked up after a judge was moved by the victim’s generous letter asking for him to be “rehabilitated”.

Prosecutor Ellen Wright said Hill was spotted by two police officers on May 9 driving a white VW Golf “at a high speed” and crossing the road onto the wrong side.