A DRIVER who leapt from a moving vehicle after swerving into a police car during a late-night chase across Bradford has been jailed for eight months.

Martin Difiori did a fast loop round a residential area in a silver Hyundai Tucson after deliberately slamming on the brakes in a bid to make a pursuing patrol car crash into his vehicle, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Difiori, 41, of Whiteways, Bolton, Bradford, initially ignored police instructions to stop at 10.15pm on February 25 this year.

Prosecutor Hannah Lynch told the court today how he drove off down Bolton Road and then did a fast loop of residential streets with the police in pursuit.

The chase included Kings Road, Whiteways, Queens Road, Bolton Road, Cliffe Road, Otley Road and Mint Street.

Difiori swerved into one police vehicle and the driver of another patrol car had to drive on to the pavement to avoid a head on smash with the Tucson.

He jumped out of the vehicle while it was still moving, causing it to run into a fence, Miss Lynch said.

He fled the scene on foot but was apprehended.

The court heard he had three convictions for driving with excess alcohol and one for driving while disqualified.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court and was sent to the crown court for sentence.

In mitigation, Difiori’s solicitor advocate, John Bottomley, said his client had worked as a technical plasterer, doing damp proofing, until last Christmas when he lost his job.

He was the sole carer for his mother who was seriously ill.

Mr Bottomley said the police pursuit did not reach great speeds and Difiori had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

It was almost 11 years since his last conviction and he had shown he could lead an offence free and productive life.

But jailing him and banning him from driving for two years and four months, Judge Jonathan Rose said it was “a persistent piece of dangerous driving”.

Difiori deliberately tried to cause the pursuing police vehicle to run into the back of him and then hit a police car.