A WANNABE mechanic who drove high-powered cars and a quad bike “like an imbecile” on some of Bradford’s busiest roads has been jailed for more than three years.

Danial Khan, 22, was locked up after being branded a “menace to the public” for committing three separate acts of dangerous driving in just over a year.

Prosecutor Lisa McCormick told the court that Khan had been given a 12-month suspended sentence on August 5 last year for offences including driving while disqualified.

Just three days later, he was seen by police driving an Audi A6 on Huddersfield Road at more than 60mph in a 30mph limit.

A chase ensued, taking in roads including Netherlands Avenue, Halfax Road, and Cleckheaton Road, with Khan running a red light and overtaking vehicles round bollards in the middle of the carriageway.

The pursuit came to an end near Odsal Top roundabout when Khan’s Audi collided with a police car, causing around £9,000 worth of damage.

On March 24 this year, Khan was seen riding a quad bike at speed in Bradford city centre, leading to a police officer approaching him as he was stopped at a set of traffic lights.

He sped off on the bike, hitting the officer in the foot and ankle as he accelerated away.

The police helicopter was deployed in a bid to stop Khan, who rode dangerously onto Manningham Lane, Hamm Strasse, and Shipley Airedale Road. He fled after crashing the bike into a stationary car.

On August 22, Khan, of Bedale, North Yorkshire, was seen behind the wheel of a Mercedes doing 80mph on Broadstone Way in the Holme Wood area of Bradford.

He again made off from officers, driving on the wrong side of the road and mounting kerbs on roads including Tong Street, Wakefield Road, Bowling Back Lane, and Leeds Road. The police helicopter was used to try and track him down, but he abandoned the vehicle and fled.

Khan’s barrister, Shufqat Khan, said the incidents had involved his client trying to evade police while driving hire cars with friends.

Judge David Hatton QC said: “But driving them like an imbecile”, to which Mr Khan responded: “Yes, there can be no better description.”

He added that Khan was a man “young enough to change” who wanted to pursue a career as a mechanic.

Jailing him for 38 months, with a 55-month driving ban, Judge Hatton told Khan: “You clearly have no regard for the safety of other road users, for the rules of the road, and for the orders of the court. You are a menace to the public.”