A police car skidded on ice and struck a brick pillar while pursuing a stolen car at speeds of up to 90mph on a treacherous winter night, a Court heard.

Film of the ten minute chase in freezing and snowy weather was shown to Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

Watching from the dock were two passengers in the speeding car, Guy Kaney, 22, of Crossdale Avenue, Buttershaw, Bradford, and Jason Johnson, 21, of Bellerby Brow, Buttershaw. Both pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle-taking after 2am on December 21 last year.

Prosecutor Paul Nicholson said they were passengers in a Volvo that was driven dangerously after it had been stolen in a house burglary earlier that night.

The court heard that the patrol car reached speeds of up to 97mph during the chase from Shelf, along the A58 Leeds Road and on to the Buttershaw estate.

The pursuit ended when the Volvo was driven on to a snow-covered field and abandoned.

The patrol car skidded on a frozen bend and hit a brick gatepost.

The officer gave chase on foot and the two defendants were caught hiding in a nearby garden.

Mr Nicholson said the driver was never apprehended.

The court was told that Kaney had been sentenced for dangerous driving in July last year and had since spent time in custody.

He was in a stable relationship and hoped to train as a plasterer.

Johnson had no previous convictions.

Judge John Potter said the chase was during a night when temperatures dipped to minus 5C degrees and there was snow, frost and ice on the roads.

But neither man was driving and both had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

He sentenced Johnson to a 12-month community order with 150 hours’ unpaid work and a curfew for three months.

Kaney was given a 12-month community order as an intensive alternative to custody with a four-month curfew.

Both men must attend the Responsible Road Users’ Group and both were banned from driving for 12 months.