A young mother who led police on a nine-mile car chase was ordered to get treatment for her drug habit after admitting to a string of offences.

Zowie Nottle, 26, of Findon Road, Brighton, used stolen credit cards and cheque books to feed her addiction to crack cocaine and heroin.

Miss Nottle pleaded guilty to three offences of obtaining property by deception, seven offences of handling stolen credit cards and cheques and a charge of theft at Lewes Crown Court yesterday.

She also admitted driving dangerously and without insurance on July 4, after police spotted a man jumping from a wire fence into a car outside B&Q in Brighton Road, Shoreham.

Miss Nottle sped about nine miles to Whitehawk, overtaking cars in her way.

When a patrol car got in front, she steered into the front of the vehicle.

She continued towards Hove, ignoring red lights and forcing other drivers to swerve. The chase ended when she collided with a police vehicle.

Judge Charles Kemp said: "It is an extraordinary catalogue of offending, committed to fund your now deep-seated addiction to crack cocaine and heroin."

He imposed a 12-month drug treatment and testing order to run concurrently for each offence and banned her from driving for two years.