A DRUG dealer climbed into the back seat of the car he was driving as it rolled to a halt during a police chase, a court was told.

Akif Ali, 19, had no licence or insurance when he failed to stop for police on September 6 last year, leading to a pursuit from Keighley through the villages of Harden and Wilsden on to the Bingley bypass.

Police said Ali had reached speeds of up to 80mph in the Vauxhall Omega before he slowed down and clambered from the driver's seat into the back of the car, leaving a teenage boy in the front waving his arms for help out of the window.

Officers managed to stop the vehicle and detained Ali, despite him trying to run off.

He initially denied driving the car, claiming he had been sitting in the back seat, but later admitted to police that although he had passed his driving theory exam, he had not passed his full test.

Ali, of Broomhill Avenue, Ingrow, Keighley, had pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving ahead of a trial which had initially scheduled for April this year.

He had previously pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing Class A drugs with an intent to supply, after being caught by police "street-dealing" in Keighley on May 21 last year.

Prosecutor Heather Gilmore told Bradford Crown Court yesterday that during a foot chase, Ali had attempted to throw away a green container later found to have 33 wraps of heroin and 15 wraps of crack cocaine inside.

"He was street dealing, and there would have been a financial advantage for him in doing that," she said.

In mitigation, Peter Hampton described Ali as "a young man who needed help," adding he suffered from severe learning difficulties.

He told the court Ali had "the mental age of a ten-year old," with an IQ of between 62 and 70, equivalent to the bottom one per cent in the country.

"He needs intensive intervention," said Mr Hampton. "He needs to grow up, mature, and accept help."

Judge Robert Bartfield said Ali had encouraged drug use and put other road users at risk with his actions, before adding: "You are 19, and you might have turned the corner.

"You will receive help, and you must take advantage of it.

"The idea is that this may turn you away from crime."

Ali was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for a year, for the drugs offences, and 12 months imprisonment, also suspended for a year, for dangerous driving.

He was given 12 months supervision, with a 30-day medium level activity requirement.

He was also disqualified from driving for two years.