A judge has told a teenage driver it was a miracle no-one was killed when he led a police car on a high-speed chase.

Although the pursuit through Bradford's streets lasted only about four minutes, labourer John Naylor, 19, was said to have accelerated to 80mph and gone through a busy set of traffic lights while they were on red.

Prosecutor Giles Bridge told the city's crown court yesterday how Naylor ran the light at the junction of Sticker Lane and Killinghall Road at about 60mph.

"He missed two vehicles while doing that,'' said Mr Bridge. "One was an ambulance. Luckily it was able to stop.''

The court heard Naylor, who had two previous convictions for drink-driving, had been banned for three years less than two months before the incident.

He admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance but when he was later questioned by police he disputed their claims he was doing over 80mph and claimed the traffic light junction was "clear'' when he drove through.

Mr Bridge said the incident began at 8.46pm on December 23 when two officers in a patrol car used their blue lights in effort to get Naylor to pull over.

As Naylor turned into Bowling Back Lane another car had to stop and officers estimated the teenager was doing in excess of 80mph along Planetrees Road.

Mr Bridge said Naylor lost control of the Rover as he drove along Bradford Lane and after a short chase he was arrested.

While he was being taken to the police station he told officers that he had a small quantity of cannabis for his own use in his pocket and he admitted a charge of possession.

The court heard Naylor regretted his actions. Judge Geoffrey Kamil said: "It seems it is a miracle people weren't killed as a result of what you were doing.''

Naylor, of Maple Avenue, Thornbury, was sent to a young offender institution for a year and given another three-year ban. At the end of his latest ban he will have to take an extended driving test.