Police 'stopped chasing' crash youths

Teenagers who died in a high-speed car crash were not being chased by police at the time, a court has been told.

Wayne Boon, 16, and brothers Tony Smith, 17 and Levi Smith, 15, died when their car - travelling at up to 80mph through Norfolk villages - smashed into a tree.

But an inquest was told on Tuesday that pursuing police cars had slowed down and fallen at least 200m behind.

Officer A, giving evidence via a video link to protect his identity, said: "I did not feel safe maintaining my speed. So I eased off the accelerator."

'Substantial threats'

The inquest was earlier told that stolen goods, including a lawn mower and car stereo, had been hurled from the speeding Vauxhall Cavalier.

The officer said he fell between 200 and 300m behind the Cavalier before the fatal accident in the village of Walpole St Andrew.

In previous evidence, a lorry driver said he had seen the first police car two lorry lengths behind the Cavalier and the second a similar distance behind that.

He said both cars appeared to be driving safely.

The chase began after police were alerted to three youths behaving suspiciously on an estate in nearby Tilney All Saints.

They were then told that a car was being driven away from the village and two patrol cars went in pursuit.

The four officers involved have permission to give evidence anonymously because of "substantial" threats made against them.

The inquest is due to end on Thursday.