A COMMUNITY leader's son has been jailed for leading the police on a late-night car chase in Bradford while banned from driving for fleeing the scene of an accident.

Omar Amin had brought shame on his highly respectable family, his barrister, Ian Howard, told Bradford Crown Court.

Amin, 21, of Noble Street, Great Horton, Bradford, was today jailed for 18 weeks and banned from driving for 18 months for dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, having no insurance and failing to stop for the police.

The court heard that police officers on patrol chased after the Volkswagen Golf Amin was driving on August 1 because he had failed to stop for them the previous night.

The pursuit began in Great Horton Road but Amin turned sharply on to Southfield Lane, before driving up a narrow alleyway, forcing a pedestrian to jump clear of his vehicle.

He carried on after hitting a wall and bursting a tyre. The car was smoking as it continued on the wheel rim before coming to a sudden stop in Horton Park Avenue.

Amin, a restaurant worker, and his passenger leapt out but were detained by officers.

The court heard that Amin had previous convictions for drugs and burglary offences.

In January, he was banned from driving for 12 months after failing to stop following an accident in Ingleby Road in Bradford. He was uninsured and did not report the crash after hitting a car, which then hit another vehicle, the court was told.

Mr Howard said Amin was realistic about the possibility of a custodial sentence.

He said Amin was travelling at less than 10mph when he turned into the alleyway and never reached speeds in excess of 50mph while being pursued by the police.

He was out of work at the time and hanging round with a bad crowd.

Amin had paid £2,000 to the owner of the Golf to repair the damage he caused.

"He acted out of stupidity and he has now made positive lifestyle decisions," Mr Howard said.

"There is evidence that he is turning the corner."

But Judge Mark Savill said Amin had his chance when he avoided custody in January.

"When you try to evade the police at excessive speed, you are essentially turning your car into a lethal weapon," he said.