PUPILS, parents and staff had a lucky escape when a dangerous driver overtook a line of traffic and drove over a zebra crossing outside a Bradford primary school, a court heard.

While other drivers slowed down to allow parents and children of Copthorne Primary School to cross All Saints Road at the end of the school day, Amir Afzaal "hared along the road" in his mum's black Toyota Corolla and overtook the traffic on the wrong side of the road.

The Recorder of Bradford Judge Roger Thomas QC said the road had been very busy at the time of the incident last June and it was only by good fortune that the car had not hit anyone.

Teaching staff, who were supervising pupils, and police community support officers in the area witnessed Afzaal's dangerous manoeuvre and he was then seen to drive into nearby Dirkhill Road and park up, Bradford Crown Court was told yesterday.

Despite being arrested and questioned about the incident soon after it had happened Afzaal claimed it must have been another black Toyota Corolla car.

Last month he was convicted after a trial of the dangerous driving offence and today he was sentenced to nine months in jail.

Judge Thomas was told that Afzaal, of St Leonard's Road, Bradford, still maintained he was not responsible for the driving and the judge was urged to suspend any prison sentence.

But Judge Thomas told Afzaal: "Everything about your case points very firmly towards you going straight to prison and in fact that's what's going to happen today."

The judge said other motorists had been driving slowly and carefully so that the zebra crossing could be used safely by the children and parents that afternoon.

"In plain view of all those people you hared along that road in a black Toyota Corolla...at a speed considerably in excess of what was safe in the circumstances.

"You went through the zebra crossing and by sheer good luck, and nothing more, you in fact did not hit anybody or anything in a hugely dangerous manoeuvre."

The judge said after being caught red-handed Afzaal had come up with a cock and bull story which the jury saw right through.

Afzaal, who had no previous convictions, was banned from driving for a year, but he must now take an extended driving test before he can lawful use a car on the roads again.