A VOLUNTARY worker who tried to outrun the police because he had drugs in his car has narrowly escaped an immediate prison sentence.

Judge David Hatton QC told Ahmed Fraz: “People are heartily sick in this city of seeing, hearing and sometimes having to avoid people driving like imbeciles on our streets.”

Fraz, 26, of Giles Street, Little Horton, Bradford, drove at up to 70mph in a three mile chase across Bradford after his friend told him not to stop for the police because he had drugs in the car.

Fraz sped off up Ripley Street at 7.30pm on May 18, Bradford Crown Court heard.

He had two passengers in his VW Golf during the pursuit that ended when he hit another vehicle broadside on after failing to give way pulling on to Little Horton Lane. Prosecutor Jonathan Sharp said Fraz drove on to the kerb, ignored three red traffic lights and forced other road users to take evasive action. He reached speeds of up to 70mph in a 30 zone and went through the grounds of St Luke’s Hospital while being chased by the police.

He fled the scene after crashing the car without checking to see if anyone had been hurt in the vehicle he had struck. Fraz was apprehended after struggling with police officers. Cannabis and money were found hidden under the passenger seat of his car. Fraz told the police he was ashamed of his driving and did not stop because his passenger revealed that he had drugs with him. His barrister, Jeremy Hill-Baker, said Fraz had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity to dangerous driving.

“He was driving lawfully until he became aware that there was contraband in the car,” Mr Hill-Baker said.

Neither of the passengers had been arrested. Fraz had served three months imprisonment for breaching a community order for possession of criminal property. He was making good progress on his release. The court heard that Fraz’s father was a deeply religious and pious man who was shocked by his son’s behaviour and had imposed a curfew on him at the family home.

Fraz did voluntary work as an electrical assistant and hoped to gain qualifications at college.

Judge Hatton sentenced him to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, 180 hours of unpaid work, a rehabilitation activity requirement and 12-months driving ban.