A DRIVER lost control and crashed into a telegraph pole in Baildon at the end of a police chase.

Matthew Jordan Crooks was behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Corsa stolen by burglars from outside a house in Ridgeway, Guiseley, at the time of the incident.

He was spotted at around 10pm in Keighley Road and officers indicated to him to stop but he drove off.

Michael Smith, prosecuting, said it was in torrential rain but Crooks drove in excess of 50mph through Bingley town centre where the speed limit was 20mph.

At one stage he drove on to the wrong side of the road and narrowly missed crashing into a bus. As he drove along a pair of mole grips were thrown from a window of the vehicle.

He overtook on a blind bend and went straight across a mini-roundabout without giving way to other traffic.

He also drove through a temporary set of traffic lights by that time reaching 70mph, said Mr Smith.

As he approached the centre of Baildon, he lost control crashing into a telegraph pole. Crooks ran off but the air bag was activated and his DNA was later discovered on it.

Stephen Wood, representing Crooks, said before that he had the good sense to go to the police and give himself up.

After his last release from custody he had managed to get a job, give negative drug tests and co-operate with the probation service but had then “got himself in with the wrong crowd and finds himself back in prison.”

He said it would be Crooks partner and family who would have to endure while he was once more absent, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Crooks, 26 of Leeds Road, Shipley admitted handling the stolen Corsa, dangerous driving and having no insurance.

He was jailed for a total of 22 months and will be disqualified from driving for three years on his release.

Recorder Richard Woolfall said the driving was deliberate. “You knew how dangerous it was but carried on, all you were concerned about was evading the police.”

He asked Crooks how he would have felt if he had caused the death of a young child when he lost control, someone could also have been hurt by the metal mole grips being thrown from the car.

“You have been before the courts on 16 previous occasions for 32 offences and experienced custody before.”

His partner had written a letter saying his behaviour was a mistake.

“Unhappily it is a mistake you keep repeating.”

The Recorder told Crooks it was time he learnt to grow up and put his family first.

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