AN UNLICENSED and uninsured driver who led the police on a dangerous pursuit around Bradford city centre has been jailed for 12 months.

Yusaf Dad was spotted by officers driving while disqualified just five days before he accelerated away from a patrol vehicle in the same BMW, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday (Thursday, December 15). 

Prosecutor Peter Byrne said the pursuit began on Cemetery Road at 9.40pm on September 28 and included Listerhills Road, John Street, the Shipley/Airedale Road and Leeds Road.

Dad, 22, of Bertie Street, Cutler Heights, Bradford, ignored an order to stop and sped off at up to 70mph, crossing on to the wrong side of the road and going down the wrong side of an extended traffic island.

He jumped red lights and weaved in and out of traffic then forced another motorist to brake sharply to avoid a collision. He was pursued at 40mph around the Bradford Moor Estate before abandoning the car in Harewood Street, causing it to roll into metal gates.

He made his escape but was arrested the next day when he was found hiding in the loft at his address wearing the same shirt he had on in the police chase.

Mr Byrne said he had a female passenger in the car with him at the time of the pursuit.

Dad pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving unlicensed and uninsured.

He had nine previous convictions for 15 offences, including taking without consent and theft from a vehicle.

Allan Armbrister said in mitigation that thankfully no one was hurt and no damage was caused in the police pursuit. The 12-minute chase wasn’t the longest or the most serious piece of dangerous driving that came before the courts.

Dad had spent time remanded in custody and knew he would be jailed for the offences.

Recorder Andrew Dallas said it was a serious piece of dangerous driving when Dad had no business to be behind the wheel at all.

The chase included excessive speeds, going through red lights and going the wrong way round a busy roundabout, causing another motorist to make an emergency stop to avoid a collision.

Only an immediate custodial sentence could be passed for a case of this magnitude.

Recorder Dallas said that an aggravating factor was Dad’s record of offending, although he had never driven dangerously before.

He was banned from driving for 28 months and until he passes an extended driving test.