Bradford’s top judge vowed there would be “no second chances” for danger drivers as he jailed a new father who led police on a “hair-raising” city centre chase.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, said taking a hard line on the issue was a “New Year’s resolution” for the city’s Crown Court.

Prosecutor Alisha Kaye told the court that Luke Hanley, 20, was driving a Volkswagen Bora on Westgate, in Bradford city centre, on December 17 last year when he made “nervous eye contact” with a police patrol car.

Officers ran checks on the car after noting it was in “poor” condition, including the number plates only being stuck on, and found that the vehicle was uninsured.

Instead of stopping, Hanley sped away, with the resulting chase taking in streets including Tetley Street, White Abbey Road, Lumb Lane, Bowland Street, and Manningham Lane.

Drivers were forced to swerve out of the way to avoid Hanley, who also drove across blind junctions and mini-roundabouts and mounted the pavement on several occasions.

He reached a top speed of around 70mph before damaging the car by hitting potholes and piles of rubbish on Springfield Place. He came to a stop and was arrested after turning into a dead end on Jubilee Street.

As he was detained by officers, he said: “I’ve been an idiot, I’m going to prison.”

Hanley, who was listed as having no fixed abode but had been living with his grandma in the Allerton area of Bradford, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without a licence or insurance.

Abdul Shakoor, mitigating, said that by appearing at court Hanley was missing the birth of his first child, a son, as his partner was in labour at Bradford Royal Infirmary at the same time as the sentencing hearing.

Judge Durham Hall said Hanley’s driving had not been a “sudden panicked action.”

He told him: “This was a fairly hair-raising pursuit around densely populated parts of Bradford. You were all over the place. You could have hurt others and killed yourself.

“The message from this court, its New Year’s resolution, is blue lights on, drivers stop. There will be no second chances from now on.

“You said you had been an idiot, full marks for accuracy. You said you were going to prison, you know that is the case.”

Hanley was jailed for a year and will be banned from driving for two years on his release from custody, when he must sit an extended driving re-test.