A BURGLAR swam the canal and hid up a tree after speeding the wrong way down Bingley bypass during a 90mph police chase.

Michael Craggs was pursued by patrol cars and tracked by the force helicopter after he was spotted at the wheel of a white Ford Ranger stolen by a gang of housebreakers, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Craggs sped away from the police down Killinghall Road during the pursuit that included Otley Road, Canal Road, Shipley and Bingley bypass.

He and his three accomplices abandoned the vehicle on Marley View, Crossflatts, and they all leapt into the canal and swam across.

Craggs, 22, of Leeds Road, Shipley, was apprehended dripping wet and hiding in a tree, prosecutor Giles Grant said.

Craggs, who was a disqualified driver on prison licence, pleaded guilty to burgling a house in Richard Glossop Court, Burley in Wharfedale, overnight between June 19 and 20, stealing the Ford Ranger and driving dangerously without insurance or a licence.

He was jailed for a total of three and a half years.

Mr Grant said the householder, his partner and their baby were asleep at the time their home was raided. The gang made off with a wallet, a handbag, cash, jewellery and watches. Also missing were the Ford Ranger and a Ford Kuga belonging to the couple.

At 2.23am, Craggs failed to stop for the police, sparking a pursuit in which he ran red lights and drove on the wrong side of the road, reaching speeds of 90mph in a 30 zone.

There were two near misses at junctions and Craggs went the wrong way round the Cottingley roundabout before speeding down the bypass on the wrong side of the road.

He had previous convictions for burglary and aggravated vehicle taking, the court was told.

Craggs’ barrister, Rebecca Young, said the occupants of the house were not disturbed during the burglary and their vehicles were recovered undamaged.

Craggs panicked because he was a disqualified driver in a stolen vehicle.

Miss Young conceded that it was only by good luck that Craggs did not crash into another vehicle.

Craggs was “smart, intelligent and educated.” He was a qualified mechanic and fabric welder with insight into the inconvenience and distress he had caused the home owner.

“It is a travesty that he has found himself in the company of others who were committing offences of this nature,” Miss Young said.

Craggs was homeless at the time and now wanted to join his family to start a new life in Scotland.

Judge Colin Burn sentenced him to 30 months imprisonment for the burglary and theft offences, with 12 months to run consecutively for dangerous driving.

He was banned from driving for 45 months.