A DANGEROUS driver was told to "sort himself out" before being jailed for dangerous driving.
Jacob Hutchinson, 23, of no fixed, abode appeared before Bradford Crown Court to be sentenced for the offence, in which he was said to have put police officers, and others, lives "at risk".
It happened on March 3 this year, when Hutchinson fled from police on a number of snow-covered roads, including Dracup Avenue, Scholemoor Lane, Clayton Road, Bradford Road, The Avenue, Brook Lane and Brow Lane.
Prosecutor Robert Yates said officers saw Hutchinson overtake "at speed" on Clayton Road and attempted to stop him by putting their blue lights on.
Hutchinson paid no heed to this and went on to travel across a roundabout in the wrong direction, hit speeds of 75mph in a 30mph zone, caused other drivers to take action to avoid a crash and narrowly missed a parked car.
The officers following Hutchinson eventually lost sight of him but were able to visit his home address through his number plate.
Jayne Beckett, for Hutchinson, highlighted a number of problems in his life, including struggling with attention deficit disorder, alcohol abuse and suffering four bereavements in the past year.
She said Hutchinson, who was brought up in foster care, lost his biological father and this had brought back lots of past anger.
He began to drink again and also made an attempt on his own life, she said, and added he would "do anything" to avoid incarceration.
Sentencing, Judge David Hatton said: "I've no doubt there are good sides to you and equally there are bad sides to you.
"It's quite right, as has been said, you need to sort yourself out if you are going to make anything of the good sides."
He said the road conditions were "extremely hazardous" and Hutchinson had driven through residential areas at "great speeds".
Judge Hatton told him he put the lives of police officers, and others, at risk and said it was aggravated by the fact he had driven in a dangerous manner before, receiving a suspended sentence back in 2015.
"Drivers failing to stop for police officers when told to is something which is rife in this city." Judge Hatton said.
"A custodial sentence is inevitable."
He was handed a 12-month jail sentence, reduced by one third for a guilty plea, and disqualified from driving for two years.
Hutchinson, who works in the gas industry and has also been in the army, will have to take an extended retest. There was no separate penalty for driving without a licence and driving without insurance.
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