A 17-year-old girl suffered a serious head injury after a Mercedes allegedly stolen from an Aldershot garage crashed near the M3 after police attempted to stop the vehicle in Rushmoor.

The vehicle allegedly failed to stop for officers on Fernhill Road on Wednesday, May 20, before driving onto the A331 and crashing into a barrier near the roundabout by Junction 4 of the M3.

Police said officers removed the girl safely from the vehicle before she was taken to hospital for treatment.

Two other passengers, a 20-year-old man from Sandhurst and an 18-year-old man from Farnborough, were arrested on suspicion of theft from a motor vehicle and burglary other than dwelling. They have been bailed while enquiries continue.

Police said officers searching the Mercedes found two additional sets of car keys believed to have been stolen from Garrison Garage during an earlier burglary on April 22.

Charlie Jones, 18, of Thornhill Road, Aldershot, has since been charged in connection with the incidents.

In relation to the crash on May 20, he has been charged with burglary other than dwelling, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, using a motor vehicle without third party insurance, and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

He has also been charged over the earlier incident on April 22 with two counts of aggravated vehicle taking, burglary other than dwelling, failing to stop a mechanically propelled vehicle, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, and using a motor vehicle without third party insurance.

Jones was due to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates Court today.

Police said the incident began after officers on a proactive patrol noticed suspicious activity involving the Mercedes on Hawley Lane.