A BRADFORD judge said he had no other option but to send a teenager to jail for driving dangerously in Bradford.

Earlier this year, Ryan Womersley, of Tees Street, Canterbury, Bradford, was at the centre of an 11-minute police chase, stretching from Reevy Road into Brighouse.

Judge Jonathan Rose said the incident presented a "grave risk" to the public as even maintenance workers had to leap out of the way on occasions.

He added that Womersley could have "easily killed another person".

The 19-year-old was sentenced to 18 months in jail at Bradford Crown Court on Friday.

Womersley was already serving a suspended sentence for intent to supply heroin and cocaine before the driving offences took place.

At around 5.15pm on Sunday, July, 3, he drove off from a patrol car in a stolen Fiat Panda, while having no insurance or a full licence, and then failed to stop.

Judge Rose said Womersley drove in an "exceptionally dangerous way" as he was on the wrong side of the road several times during the pursuit.

The chase continued into the car park of a Tesco where Womersley drove at an unsafe speed.

Prosecutor Heather Gilmore said Womersley ignored the rules of the road and that the sentence should be aggravated due to his previous offences.

Laura McBride, defending, asked Judge Rose if the sentence could be suspended.

It was argued that a custodial sentence would put him at risk of associating with the wrong people.

She said Womersley had kept his head down since re-offending with the help of his mum and brothers.

Footage of the dangerous driving was played out in court which caused great shock and upset to Womersley, according to Mrs McBride.

Womersley's father was present in court and he had previously told him to "stop being a burden" as he helped him look for work.

The defence continued by saying Womersley knows his behaviour cannot continue and that he is sorry for letting himself and his family down.

Mrs McBride ended by adding Womersley had "made some wrong decisions but he's not a bad person".

Judge Rose concluded by saying: "I want to give you a final chance but I can't do that.

"I considered very carefully whether to suspend the sentence but the seriousness of driving and you being on a suspended sentence means that my conclusion is justified.

"Sorry, it cannot be any different. Once you've served your sentence, make something of your life."