A DANGER driver has been jailed for nine months for almost “wiping out” an ambulance in a high-speed police chase.

Sending Sheikh Miah to the cells, Bradford’s top judge again warned that people who fail to stop for the police will be locked up.

Miah, 24, of Grosvenor Road, Manningham, Bradford, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice by ringing the police to pretend the car had been stolen.

Prosecutor Philip Adams told Bradford Crown Court the trainee electrician sped off at 9.15pm on May 23 after officers saw his blue VW Passat braking heavily on Springfield Place, Manningham. In the two-minute pursuit covering two miles, Miah almost hit an oncoming car on Lumb Lane, forcing the driver to skid to a halt.

He was doing double the 30mph speed limit and narrowly avoided an ambulance at the junction with Carlisle Road, forcing it to take evasive action.

Miah jumped red traffic lights and accelerated away along North Park Road. Police lost sight of the car on St Mary’s Road and found the vehicle abandoned on Park Drive with the lights on.

A passenger in the Passat, who stayed with the car after Miah had fled on foot, was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

Miah’s wallet was found in the car and he later rang the police and told them the keys had been taken in a burglary and the vehicle stolen.

When pressed for further details, he hung up.

The police were suspicious and went to Miah’s home to arrest him.

He admitted being the driver and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Patrick Palmer said in mitigation that the dangerous driving was “two minutes of madness.”

Miah had worked in the catering industry but was now a trainee electrician who had the support of his family.

It was Ramadan and he had not eaten for a long time when he panicked to escape the police.

Miah was a carer for his mother and had kept out of trouble since.

It was an isolated offence that was out of character.

But the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, said that dealing with dangerous drivers robustly had the full support of the community. It had been repeatedly highlighted in the local media that those who tried to outrun the police would be locked up.

“It is absolutely inexplicable that young persons are still resorting to this reaction when the police want them to stop, knowing that, as night follows day, the offenders will go to prison,” he said.

He told Miah: “You nearly wiped out an ambulance” in “two minutes of madness that have brought great shame on you and anxiety to your family.”

Miah was banned from driving for two years plus the time he will serve in prison.