AN “immature” dangerous driver who led police on a 100mph chase from the M62 into Bradford city centre has been jailed.

Bradford Crown Court heard that multiple police vehicles and the West Yorkshire force helicopter were involved in tracking 21-year-old Rawaib Rauf as he jumped red lights and drove on the wrong side of the road before abandoning his car on December 1 last year.

Judge David Hatton QC told Rauf: “You had ample opportunity to abandon this course of conduct and to hand yourself over to police, but you thought you were a better driver and you could evade them, but you clearly could not.”

How the police chase unfolded 

Prosecutor Zanisha Herbert said police spotted Rauf using a mobile phone as he drove a silver VW Passat in icy conditions between junctions 26 and 27 on the eastbound carriageway of the M62 at about 10.44pm.

Officers followed and turned on their blue lights to signal for Rauf to pull over as he exited onto the slip road of the M621.

Instead, he accelerated to 88mph, jumped a red light, drove onto the A650 towards Bradford, and drove at 70mph in a 50mph zone.

Over the next ten minutes, he overtook other drivers, jumped more red lights, and drove on the wrong side of the road, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision as his speed reached 101mph.

Much of the high-speed chase was captured on dashcam footage.

Patrol vehicles were forced to abort their pursuit due to risk and the force helicopter took over, which directed officers on the ground to an alleyway behind Westfield Road where Rauf and a passenger jumped out of the car and ran off.

The Passat then rolled out of control into the police car, causing minor damage. Cannabis resin was found in the car.

Rauf and the second man were caught following a chase on foot and arrested at 10.58pm.

Rauf, who worked as a delivery driver, refused to provide a specimen for blood testing and in an interview gave “no comment” answers.

After first denying dangerous driving he later pleaded guilty and also admitted failing to provide a specimen.

'He should have pulled over, but he put his foot down' 

Mitigating, Matthew Moore-Taylor said “inherent immaturity” and “stupidity” was at the heart of Rauf’s actions.

He said he “panicked” when he realised the police were behind him.

He added: “He should have pulled over, but he put his foot down.

“Adrenaline had taken over.

“This is a young man who very much got it wrong.”

Sentencing Rauf, of Great Horton Road, Bradford, to a total of ten months in prison, Judge Hatton said he had chosen to ignore the rules of the road and disregard the risks of danger to others.

He said: “It was a prolonged, persistent, and deliberate course of dangerous driving.

“You performed obviously highly dangerous manoeuvres. The offence was committed in the course of evading the police. Your speed was significantly in excess of the speed limit and inappropriate for the weather conditions.”

In addition to the jail term, Rauf was banned from driving for two years and told to undertake an extended driving test on his release from prison.

Judge Hatton ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the cannabis.