A 25-year-old man, who hopes to pursue a boxing career, has been jailed for two offences of dangerous driving in the space of four months.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC described Theophilus Barrett's first offence last August as "outrageous" after hearing how the speeding BMW he was driving collided with six other vehicles during a protracted pursuit around streets in Bradford.

Prosecutor Graham O'Sullivan said during the pursuit on August 2 another man in the car leaned out of the BMW and pointed a two-foot long metallic object towards armed police officers in their vehicle.

Mr O'Sullivan said the officers initially thought the object looked like a sawn-off shotgun and it was only when it was thrown from the car that it was seen to be a folded up hazard warning triangle.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday that during the pursuit, which finally ended in Moore Avenue, Wibsey, Bradford, Barrett drove at up to 70mph in 30mph zones, mounted pavements and went the wrong way round a roundabout.

The pursuit came to an end when the BMW, which had been stolen in a burglary the month before, hit two cars on Moore Avenue and Barrett and his passenger fled on foot.

Mr O'Sullivan said Barrett, of Independant Street, Little Horton, Bradford, was arrested after he tried to hide in some nearby undergrowth.

His DNA was also discovered on an airbag which had been activated in the collision.

The court heard that Barrett was given bail, but in November he was caught behind the wheel of a £25,000 Mercedes bearing false registration plates.

After being given bail again he went on to commit the second dangerous driving offence in December when he was spotted by police officers in a friend's Seat Leon.

Mr O'Sullivan said Barrett again overtook other vehicles in a dangerous manner at speed before officers lost sight of the vehicle in the Tong Lane area.

While the Leon was out of sight Barrett and his friend Kevin O'Hara, 27, of Crediton Avenue, Bradford, swapped items of clothing and seats in a bid to make it look as if O'Hara had been the driver.

Barrett was yesterday jailed for a total of 42 months after he admitted charges of dangerous driving, handling stolen goods and perverting the course of justice.

O'Hara, who also admitted perverting the course of justice, was sentenced to eight months in jail, suspended for a year, and ordered to do 120 hours unpaid work for the community.

Barrett's barrister Nigel Jamieson said the defendant realised he faced an immediate jail sentence, but there was a more postive side to his client.

He handed in references from previous employers and said Barrett now wanted to put his idiotic behaviour behind him.

Mr Jamieson said his client was interested in amateur boxing and wanted to concentrate his energies on the sport when he was released from prison.

"He wants to concentrate on that and go semi-professional or even professional," said Mr Jamieson.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said the first incident of dangerous driving was "outrageous and frightening".

Barrett will start a three-year driving ban when he is released from his jail term and he must also take a mandatory re-test.