An 18-year-old who had no licence has admitted causing serious injury to a female pedestrian while driving dangerously in a stolen car.

Keith Lowres was warned he faces an immediate jail sentence after he pleaded guilty to taking a car in Cranbrook and causing the crash which injured the pedestrian in Pinhoe, Exeter.

Lowres, of Thursby Walk, Exeter, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, and driving without a licence or insurance on June 21 this year.

He took a Peugeot 508 car from Cranbrook and drove it to Exeter where he drove dangerously in Station Road and Churchill Road, Pinhoe, and in Lower Harrington Lane, where the pedestrian, who is in her 30s, was injured.

Lowres also admitted making off without paying for petrol on April 4 and perverting the course of justice by naming another person as a driver on a notice of intended prosecution on three dates in April and May.

Judge David Evans adjourned sentence until December 6 to allow the defence time to obtain a psychological report but told Lowres to expect immediate custody. He released him on conditional bail.

He said: “You have pleaded guilty to serious offences.”

Miss Rachel Smith, defending, said Lowres is engaging well with the youth offending team, had addressed his drug use and needs an assessment of his mental health issues.