A SPEEDING driver who smashed into a house wall almost demolishing it has been sentenced to ten months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

Michael Carr was ordered to pay £100 towards the damage caused when his red Volkswagen Golf crashed on Pasture Lane, Bradford, at around 5pm on January 17 last year.

Carr, 51, of Hughenden Drive, School Green, Thornton, Bradford, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving after he sped off down Bradford Road, Clayton.

Prosecutor Andrew Semple said his car had rolled into a police vehicle denting it and hitting a female officer standing next to it. Carr wound his window down and stated that he hadn’t put the handbrake on.

The officer, who was struck on the thighs, asked him to sit in her vehicle until other officers arrived but he pulled away into a line of traffic forcing a vehicle to brake. Carr then sped off down Theakstone Mead and Station Road before crashing about thirty seconds later after shooting out from a junction without stopping.

The Golf’s airbags were inflated in the impact and eye-witnesses said the vehicle smelt of cannabis.

Carr said: “I’ve got to get out of here - the cops are chasing me.”

People at the scene said he was unsteady on his feet and slurring his words.

Mr Semple said Carr accepted that he was a habitual user of drugs until last October.

He left the scene leaving the Golf embedded in the wall but was arrested at his home shortly afterwards.

He said that after accidentally hitting the police vehicle he panicked and left the scene.

“I just put my foot down and drove off into Clayton,” he told officers.

Carr had 34 previous convictions for 57 offences, including possession of drugs and matters of dishonesty, but nothing for driving. His last two offences, in 2012 and 2016, were low level shoplifting.

John Bottomley said in mitigation that it was a short piece of dangerous driving that did not involve a police pursuit.

Carr had struggled with drug problems in the past but was now free of them.

He was the registered carer for his ill mother who depended on his devoted care to stay in her home.

Recorder Kirstie Watson said sending Carr immediately to jail would have an enormously detrimental effect on his mother. She had written to the court stating how much she relied on him to look after her and saying she would have to go into a care home if he was jailed.

Carr must attend 20 rehabilitation activity days and do 40 hours of unpaid work.

He was banned from driving for 12 months and until he takes an extended retest.

Recorder Watson ordered him to pay £100 compensation to the householder whose wall he damaged.