A disqualified driver involved in two high-speed police chases of up to 90mph in Bradford has been jailed.

Steven Shoesmith, 36, of no fixed address, was spotted driving on the outskirts of Bradford by officers on mobile patrol.

He approached the junction of Heaton Street and Francis Street in the early hours and turned to look towards the officers and immediately accelerated away.

It marked the start of a high-speed pursuit through Bradford, with officers first reaching speeds of 75 to 80mph.

Shosmith continued to drive away and took a series of left turns.

Another officer sighted Shoesmith on Birksland Street and hit speeds of 90mph in attempts to catch up with him.

It was dark and street lights were on, Bradford Crown Court heard on September 7.

Heading towards Wakefield Road at 80mph, Shoesmith braked heavily and travelled through a red light at the junction of New Hey Road. 

He drove through a no entry zone, forcing other drivers to slam on their brakes.

Shoesmith then headed down a residential street with a 20mph zone at 80mph. 

He entered a junction on Wakefield Road before driving the wrong way. 

Another officer in a marked police vehicle stopped Shoesmith’s grey car with tactical contact.

Shoesmith ran off on foot before he was detained on Square Street in the incident on August 6, 2022. 

It was later found Shoesmith was disqualified from driving and the vehicle was stolen from Wilmslow, Cheshire.

Just one month later, Shoesmith was caught driving with false plates in a stolen Volkswagen Golf along the M62.

He had been involved in a theft the evening before, the court heard. 

Police helicopters followed Shoesmith along the motorway but the rush hour chase escalated when he drove down Rooley Lane at 90mph. 

He was driving erratically between two lanes onto Dudley Hill roundabout, forcing other vehicles out of the way.

The defendant then drove into oncoming traffic on Sticker Lane and Cutler Heights Lane. 

There were children playing outside when Shoesmith hit 73mph on Holme Wood Road.

He drove onto Broadstone Way before going off-road onto a grass bank and field. 

He abandoned the Golf but a nearby police officer chased him on foot. 

The officer found two bags of cannabis in his pocket. 

He was driving while disqualified and uninsured.

During the police interviews, he confirmed he was aware of the speed limit but responded ‘no comment’ to queries about the nature of his driving. 

In October 2022, Shoesmith breached the sex offenders register notification requirements.

He failed to tell police he had left his previous home address after three days had passed. 

He became wanted by police, the court heard.

Shoesmith said he owed people money and had received threats against his family if he went to prison.

He managed to evade police until July 11, 2023, when officers found a full packet of cannabis infused vapes in his possession.

He knew it was a controlled substance, the court heard.

Judge Jonathan Gibson took into account the defendant’s guilty pleas and time passed when deciding Shoesmith’s sentence.

He had 41 convictions for 133 offences at the time of his appearance in court on September 7. 

He was jailed for two years for three offences - 14 months for dangerous driving, six months for driving while disqualified, and four months for breaching sex offenders register notification requirements. 

Shoesmith has been disqualified for three years and must take an extended retest when applying for a new driving licence.

He was given concurrent sentences for the remaining offences. 

He received three months each for fraud, handling stolen goods, driving without insurance and failure to stop for police. 

He received one month and seven days imprisonment in total for two possession of drugs charges.

"You have relevant previous convictions," Judge Gibson said.

He added: "The first of the dangerous driving involved extremely high speed and dangerous manouvres and in the end the police undertook a tactical stop which resulted in damage.

"Your driving, it's clearly very dangerous and other people could have been badly injured or worse."