A DELIVERY driver has come within a "whisker" of going to jail for leading the police on a "terrible and terrifying" high speed car chase across central Bradford.

Usman Ali, 22, sped off in his Volkswagen Golf after swapping seats with a man who was not insured to drive the vehicle.

Ali, of Cumberland Road, Lidget Green, Bradford, was pursued for five minutes by two patrol cars on the morning of May 13.

He drove at up to 70mph in built-up areas, mounted the pavement and drove between bollards, prosecutor Philip Adams told Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

The chase ended when Ali got caught up in heavy traffic and abandoned the car.

Ali pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on roads including Legrams Lane, Morley Street, Dirkhill Road, Necropolis Road and Beckside Road.

Mr Adams said that traffic officers saw him swapping seats with a man who had been driving the car.

Ali then accelerated away, closely pursued by the police.

Part-way through the chase, another traffic car took over the pursuit, meeting Ali driving towards him.

Ali mounted the kerb to escape, squeezing between a parked vehicle and a wall.

After his arrest, he made no comment except to deny that he was the driver.

Ali's solicitor advocate, Tom Rushbrooke, said he allowed an uninsured driver to take the wheel.

He then panicked and was pressured by the other man to drive off.

Ali had no criminal convictions and was fully licensed and insured to drive the car.

"He was panicked and upset and acted out of character," Mr Rushbrooke said.

He had lost his job as a delivery driver and his parents were deeply ashamed.

Judge Mark Savill sentenced Ali to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, with a 12 month community order and 150 hours of unpaid work.

He also imposed a curfew order, banned Ali from driving for 12 months and ordered him to pay a £900 criminal courts charge.

Sentencing him, Judge Savill said Ali had "shot himself in the foot" by committing an offence that had lost him his job and his good character.

He told him: "This was terrible and terrifying driving. It is only pure good chance that you did not kill anyone.

"You have come within a whisker of going to prison today."