A fleeing BMW driver fishtailed across the road and drove along the top of a drystone wall during a chase at ‘a crazy speed’ down a narrow country lane. 

Lewis Dewar sped away from the police shortly before 8pm on July 21, Bradford Crown Court heard today. 

Dewar, 23, of Woodlands Rise, Haworth, near Keighley, was in breach of a community order for causing actual bodily harm when he accelerated off from Cullingworth, prosecutor Philip Adams said. 

Officers were responding to an unrelated incident when Dewar appeared to react to the lights and sirens activated on their vehicle. 

He went along Keighley Road towards Denholme, crossing the carriageway at 50mph on a bend in a 30 zone, and hitting the kerb. 

Mr Adams said the BMW fishtailed across the road several times before Dewar got control back. 

He encountered stationary traffic on Whalley Lane, clipping a road sign and narrowly missing a car. 

Dewar then drove at 70mph on the narrow country road with a significant risk of causing a serious accident, Mr Adams said. 

He lost control of the car again, driving along the top of a drystone wall before crashing on to the road and running off into a wooded area. 

The court heard that the chase lasted two to three minutes. 

A keyring with Dewar’s photo on it was found in the car. 

He at first denied dangerous driving but then pleaded guilty. 

Dewar had 15 convictions for 27 offences, including assault, damage, theft and possession of a knife. In 2019, he was sent to custody for 12 months. 

In June last year, he received a community order for an offence of actual bodily harm on a supermarket car park. 

David McGonigal said in mitigation that Dewar had ADHD and autism and was the carer for his mother. He was working well with his probation officer to address his problems. 

Recorder Simon Myerson KC said he had driven off ‘at a crazy speed.’ He could have easily killed himself and somebody else. But it was essentially ‘a blip’ when he was making good progress. 

He discharged the community order and replaced it with 15 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 56 rehabilitation activity days. 

Dewar was banned from driving for 18 months and until he passes an extended retest. 

Recorder Myerson warned him that it was his last chance to avoid a prison sentence. Any breaches were reserved to the crown court.