A drunk teenager who stole a bus to get home after a night out clubbing has escaped a jail sentence.

The 17-year-old apprentice mechanic smashed the single decker into a parked bus and demolished a set of traffic lights, causing more than £4,000 worth of damage, after taking it from a bus station.

He then drove up Lewes High Street towards his home in Uckfield, Lewes Youth Court heard yesterday.

Jon Kerr, prosecuting, said: "Sparks were seen flying from a piece of metal as it was pulled along by the bus."

The teenager, who had only ever driven a moped before, then continued on a ten-mile journey to a busy road where he was spotted by police and chased, the court was told.

He pulled into a layby but then drove off again at speeds of up to 40mph, mounting the kerb several times before eventually stopping. He was arrested after being brought to the ground by a police dog.

The youth, who is too young to be named, denied aggravated vehicle taking, drink-driving, causing damage to property, failing to stop after an accident, failing to stop when required by police and no insurance but was convicted after a day-long trial.

He has no previous convictions.

The teenager told the court he had been to an under-18s club night in Brighton and had been drinking alcohol all day on Christmas Eve last year.

He said he got the train to Lewes where he found he had missed his bus but was offered a lift by a mystery man.

He said: "I asked him if he knew when the last bus to Uckfield was and he said he would take me."

Magistrates said they were unable to believe there was a second person on the bus.

The youth was made the subject of a three-month action plan order, banned from driving for a year and ordered to pay £1,200 in compensation to the bus firm and the local highways authority for damage to the traffic lights.

Magistrate Dr Sue Berry said: "It's an absolute blessing that no one was killed or injured."