A DRINK driver who tried to outrun the police in a late-night chase around central Bradford has been spared an immediate jail sentence after a judge heard he was “not the classic boy racer.”

Family man Mark Meek panicked when he was ordered to stop because he rightly feared he was over the alcohol limit.

Meek, 35, of Kings Road, Bolton, Bradford, led the police on a high speed pursuit along Valley Road on to Queens Road, Bolton Lane and Bisbane Avenue.

Prosecutor Duncan Ritchie said the father-of-three went double the speed limit in his uninsured Ford Focus after midnight on June 9.

The police followed Meek from Canal Road after seeing him using a hand held phone while at the wheel. He failed to stop at a junction, forcing another vehicle to swerve, and drove round a housing estate at excessive speed, doing up to 70mph in a 30 zone. Meek was stopped after the five minute pursuit when he was blocked in by a patrol car, causing a minor collision.

He was found to have 54 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35.

Meek was immediately remorseful, telling the police he had been “absolutely stupid.”

He was on his way to Tesco on Canal Road to buy food for his family’s breakfast.

Meek pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, dangerous driving and driving without insurance.

He had a previous conviction for driving with excess alcohol and driving while disqualified but had committed no offences for the past five years.

Meek’s barrister, Nigel Jamieson, said his client was a devoted family man who was genuinely sorry and feared being sent to prison because of the devastating effect on his wife and children. He said: “He is not the classic boy racer; the young man showing off to his friends.”

He went out to buy food for his family and drove off because he thought he could be over the drink-drive limit.

Judge Neil Davey QC sentenced Meek to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, with 150 hours of unpaid work. He was banned from driving for three years and until he takes an extended retest.