An illegal motorist has been brought to book for speeding, skidding and crashing in a city centre street.

David O’Reilly, 24, of Upper Grange Avenue, Allerton, Bradford, is now serving 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to charges of dangerous driving, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

He was arrested following an incident in Godwin Street, Bradford, which was seen by patrolling police officers in the Tong and Wyke Neighbourhood Policing Team.

Police Constables Oliver Bentley and Donna Winterbottom were waiting at red traffic lights in the street while on duty in a marked police vehicle when their attentions were drawn by the behaviour of a driver in a red Vauxhall Corsa.

The car, driven by O’Reilly, was seen to emerge from the top of Godwin Street at speed before he applied the brakes sharply, causing the vehicle to skid across lanes and come to a stop behind a queue of traffic waiting at the lights.

PC Bentley got out of the police vehicle to speak to him about driving dangerously in a busy public place but on spotting the police officer, O’Reilly reversed at speed back up Godwin Street without any regard to other vehicles or pedestrians towards a blind corner where there was oncoming traffic.

As he backed up the Corsa, O’Reilly crashed into a taxi carrying passengers then drove off by heading the wrong way along a one-way street. PC Bentley attempted to follow the car on foot and gained a description of the driver.

Inquiries were carried out into the car, and using the PCs’ description, O’Reilly was arrested.

Speaking after the Court case, PC Winterbottom said: “We are dedicated to tackling those who drive illegally and put other road users’ safety at risk.

“In this particular case, O’Reilly was driving in a dangerous manner and without a licence or insurance. We will continue to confront those who flout the law in this way, whether it be as part of our routine work or as part of our planned operations.

“Be assured, if you are not legally entitled to be on the road, we will be targeting you and bringing offenders before the courts.”

O’Reilly was also disqualified from driving by a judge sitting at Bradford Crown Court.