A judge has spared a 25-year-old man an immediate jail sentence for his fifth offence of dangerous driving because of the unusual circumstances of the case.

James Mellor, of Swarland Grove, Little Horton, Bradford, had a full driving licence and was insured when he fled from police on Thursday, April 7. Bradford Crown Court heard he drove dangerously in the West Bowling area of Bradford because he was urged to speed off by his passenger who was wanted by the police.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC called for a new “three strikes and you’re out” jail sentence for persistent dangerous drivers while dealing with the case last week.

He remanded Mellor in custody for a week to decide what to do with him.

Simon Myers, Mellor’s barrister, said the trainee plumber at Bradford College, had a stable family life and had made life-changing strides since his fourth conviction for dangerous driving in 2008 for an offence dating back to 2006.

Today the judge sentenced Mellor to nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, and banned him from driving for two years.

He must attend supervision for 12 months and do 200 hours’ unpaid work for the community.