Teenager in police chase locked up

7:08pm Monday 13th August 2007

A judge has locked up a teenager after watching video footage of him driving dangerously down one of Bradford's busiest roads at night.

Adam McAvan, who described himself as a "self-taught driver'', ran a red light on Leeds Road and overtook other motorists on the wrong side of the road in a bid to get away from a pursuing police car in April.

The uninsured 18-year-old, who had two passengers in the Renault Clio, was eventually arrested after he collided with the police car as he tried to make a right turn.

The Clio had been taken during a burglary at a house in the Clayton Heights area the day before and McAvan claimed to have panicked when the police spotted him driving it on the Holme Wood estate.

McAvan, of Church Street, Shipley, was sent to a young offenders institution for 15 months and banned from driving for three years after he admitted charges of aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

During yesterday's hearing at Bradford Crown Court it emerged that McAvan was made the subject of a 12-month detention and training order last October for an offence of causing bodily harm by wanton and furious driving.

Prosecutor Gavin Howie revealed that McAvan had tried to drive out of a cul-de-sac during another pursuit by reversing at speed into a police car injuring one of the officers.

Mr Howie said McAvan was released from custody in early April and had gone on to commit the new offences later that same month.

After the four-minute police footage of the pursuit was shown to the court McAvan's barrister Peter Moulson conceded that his driving had been serious, but happily short-lived.

McAvan told police after his arrest he had borrowed the car from a friend and admitted driving at speed over traffic-calming measures during the pursuit.