A BRADFORD judge has reinforced the court’s policy that “blue lights mean stop” by jailing a danger driver whose chase by police lasted less than two minutes.

Mohammad Ali, 33, did not exceed 40mph during the brief pursuit around roads in Keighley, but was told there was “no alternative” to immediate custody in his case.

The local hard-line approach has been praised as a “shining example” to other areas by a major road safety charity.

Prosecutor Philip Adams told Bradford Crown Court that police were on patrol in the early hours of December 16 last year when they saw Ali leaving the Asda car park in Keighley driving a BMW 1 Series car.

Officers followed him and used their blue lights to indicate for him to stop, but he ignored them and sped off onto Caledonia Road.

Ali proceeded to do a lap of roads including Eric Street, Lawkholme Lane, and Spring Street, where he hit an unmarked police car trying to block his escape.

He proceeded onto Parson Street and then Pheasant Street, where he jumped out of the car and ran off.

Mr Adams said that when officers found him hiding in a nearby back yard, he asked them: “What’s this all about?”

The court heard that while Ali had only reached speeds of 40mph in the brief chase, road conditions on the narrow streets were very icy and there were pedestrians and other vehicles in the area.

In interview, Ali, of Rupert Street, Keighley, admitted the offence, saying he had borrowed a friend’s car to go to the supermarket and had tried to evade police as he had no insurance.

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He admitted charges of dangerous driving and driving without insurance ahead of a proposed trial.

Abdul Shakoor, defending, acknowledged his client had made a “stupid decision” to try and flee from police, but said the incident was very short-lived.

He said Ali worked at his family restaurant in Keighley as well as helping to care for his elderly parents.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, told Ali: “When you were asked to stop by blue lights, you shot off.

“You made a determined effort, however short-lived, to get away. The pursuit involved three police cars, one of which you collided with.”

Judge Durham Hall said that while he accepted Ali’s case was one of a “more modest culpability”, it was still an offence of dangerous driving.

Jailing Ali for eight months, he told him: “The policy of this court, justified by community impact and the sheer volume of cases, is that there is no alternative to immediate custody.

“I cannot suspend the sentence.”

Ali will also be banned from driving for 18 months on his release from prison.

Commenting on the sentencing, a spokesman for the road safety charity Brake said: “The approach taken to road safety in Bradford is commendable and should be seen as a shining example to other areas of the country.

“All too often dangerous drivers are given lenient sentences, if punished at all, giving the impression that unsafe driving isn’t a serious issue.

“This couldn’t be further from the truth.

“Every day, five people are killed and 66 seriously injured on our roads, causing unimaginable devastation to families across the UK.

“Tough penalties send a clear sign that dangerous driving will not be tolerated and is a vital tool in the campaign for safer roads.”