A TALENTED teenage footballer with a promising career in engineering is the latest young man from Bradford to be locked up for trying to outrun the police in a “blue light chase”.

The front wheel fell off the blue Fiat Punto that Uwais Nawaz was not licensed or insured to drive when he hit the kerb during the late-night pursuit across central Bradford.

Nawaz, 18, of Brook Lane, Clayton, sped off from the police on Thornton Road at 12.15am on April 7, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Officers thought he looked too young to be driving and turned on their blue lights ordering him to stop, prosecutor Jeremy Hill Baker told the court on Friday. Nawaz, who is studying for a degree in chemical engineering, sped off and was chased along Ingleby Road, jumping red lights and reaching speeds of 70mph as he headed towards Clayton Road. Mr Hill Baker said that a specialist road policing unit took over the pursuit.

By now, the speeding car was smoking and Nawaz turned off the lights in a desperate bid to shake off the police. When he struck the kerb, both airbags were deployed and the front wheel fell off. Nawaz fled on foot leaving his provisional driving licence in the car.

He made a “no comment” interview with the police but went on to plead guilty to dangerous driving and driving without insurance or a full licence.

Nawaz’s barrister, Abdul Shakoor, said the teenager had never been in trouble with the police before. Character references spoke of him being “an honest and sincere person.” Nawaz was a promising footballer who had trialled at a prominent club and he was studying for a degree in chemical engineering.

“If he is sent to custody, his career will be in ruins,” Mr Shakoor said. “He made a stupid decision that night, he panicked.” Nawaz was ashamed and remorseful and he cared for his poorly father.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, said: “This is a complete disaster for everyone.”

Nawaz had borrowed the car when he had no licence or insurance. When the police’s blue lights came on, he failed to stop. “Off you shot in a sustained and disgraceful attempt to evade the police,” the judge said.

“I am desperately sorry for your family, but I am equally desperately sorry for those who have been killed on the streets of Bradford,” Judge Durham Hall said. He went on: “Young men seem to think it is right and proper to put citizens’ lives at risk by giving the police a run for their money.”

Nawaz was sent to a young offender institution for four months and banned from driving for 26 months. He will need to take an extended test before he gets back behind the wheel.