A YOUNG driver who led police on a five-minute chase through a housing estate before abandoning his car after it was halted by a “stinger” device has avoided an immediate prison sentence.

Bradford Crown Court heard that 22-year-old Waris Khokhar, of Halifax Road, Bradford, had accelerated to 69mph in 20mph zones as he sped through the Buttershaw estate at 9.40pm on August 10 this year.

He was said to have “panicked” after police officers in a marked car noticed the manner of his driving and signalled with their blue lights for him to stop.

Instead, he took off. At one point he turned into a narrow unmade road and forced a pedestrian to jump into roadside bushes to prevent them being struck by his car.

When the car was stopped by the stinger Khokhar jumped out and ran off but was caught. He was arrested at the scene and later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

Mitigating, Ella Embleton said Khokhar had “simply panicked” when he saw the police car behind him, and that his actions were as a result of “a moment of stupidity”.

Sentencing Khokhar to eight months imprisonment suspended for two years, Mr Recorder Abdul Iqbal KC said: “You made a concerted, sustained, and consistent attempt to evade the police.

“You have avoided custody today. It’s to be hoped that the court will not see you again.”

Khokhar was banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to take an extended retest before getting behind the wheel again.

He was also ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work and to undertake 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.