AN EX-SERVICEMAN waded neck deep in a stream in a desperate bid to evade police officers he had tried to outrun in an uninsured Ford Transit van.

Jake Halpin swam across the beck but was met on the other side by a waiting police community support officer, Bradford Crown Court heard on Monday.

Halpin, 22, of Kings Road, Swain House, Bradford, was jailed for six months for dangerous driving and having no insurance.

He pleaded guilty to the offences on the day he was to stand trial.

Prosecutor Jessica Randell said police on patrol with DVLA officers ordered Halpin to stop as part of a check on untaxed vehicles on the morning of November 27 last year.

Halpin made off along Toller Lane on a nine minute pursuit, including Shay Lane, North Bank Road and Cottingley Road, that ended when he drove up a dirt track and abandoned the van.

Miss Randell told the court Halpin drove erratically during the police chase, almost losing control of the van.

He clipped three vehicles, smashed his wing mirror on a wall and drove across a grass verge to get past queuing traffic on Lee Lane.

Police officers lost sight of the van but members of the public pointed out the stationary and empty vehicle.

Halpin ran into the stream and waded up to his neck before swimming off.

When he was apprehended he denied that he was driving the van. He said his friend, who he declined to name, was at the wheel.

Police traced a McDonald’s receipt to a local branch of the restaurant chain and CCTV footage showed Halpin was the only person in the van when he ordered the takeaway, Miss Randell told the court.

Halpin, who had no previous convictions, was running the van on red diesel and it had bald tyres, the court heard.

He had previously been disqualified from driving as a “totter.”

Halpin’s barrister, Jayne Beckett, said he had the courage to plead guilty before having to lie to a jury on oath.

He had loved life in the army and done very well but took the decision to leave when his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Halpin returned to Yorkshire to provide help and financial support to his parents but he was unable to find work and he was not equipped to deal with the situation.

He acted out of blind panic when he ran from the police.

Halpin was now working as an apprentice scaffolder and was very well thought of by his employer, Mrs Beckett said.

Judge Neil Davey QC warned that drivers must stop when ordered to by the police.

“You did everything you possibly could to get away from the police,” he told Halpin.

Halpin was banned from driving for 15 months.