A MAN who led police on a chase, at more than double the speed limit through the city, which ended in a crash has been spared jail.

Akaash Ramzan, 18, of Emm Lane, Manningham, took his brother’s Audi A3 from the family home on the evening of November 16 last year.

He only held a provisional licence and had no insurance, and his brother had no idea his car had been taken.

Ramzan was spotted by police driving on Canal Road, undertaking traffic, which is when the pursuit began.

Prosecutor Duncan Ritchie said officers were in an unmarked police car, but had their siren and blue lights on.

Driving through Manningham, Ramzan reached speeds of 60 and 70 miles per hour in a 30mph zone narrowly missing crashing into parked cars.

Mr Ritchie said: “Ramzan drove towards central Bradford, along alleyways and back streets, before emerging onto Emm Lane without giving way, causing a collision with another car.

“He then ran from the Audi from police, who had a dog, and hid beneath some brambles.

“The dog was deployed and he came out when he was bitten by the dog, and was still holding the keys in his hand.”

Robin Frieze, in mitigation, said Ramzan was of good character, with no previous offences.

He said: “He felt he was a decent driver, this was just a stupid error of judgement.

“He panicked when the police tried to stop him. He is usually a sensible and intelligent young man, and is intelligent enough to appreciate this is serious.

“Fortunately, the damage caused in the crash was minor to both cars.”

A probation officer added that Ramzan, who currently studies at Bradford College and has plans to attend university, was a “pleasant young man who has expressed remorse”

He said Ramzan had said he was in a “low mood at the time due to family issues and wanted to get out of the house, and could have walked but chose to take the car”.

The incident has also caused a rift between Ramzan and his brother.

Judge David Hatton QC, addressing Ramzan, who appeared in the dock in a grey suit, said: “I have no idea what you were playing at on this night in November, when you took your brother’s car and drove it dangerously in order to avoid police.

“For everything I have seen it is something entirely alien to your normal character.

"It appears you are a bright, courteous and respectable young man with some ambition and prospects. To what extent this will affect those ambitions remains to be seen.

“However, people who drive dangerously to avoid police, putting the public and police in danger would ordinarily be met with a custodial sentence, and this is no exception.”

Ramzan admitted dangerous driving, driving without a proper licence and no insurance, and aggravated vehicle taking.

He was sentenced to eight months in a young offender’s institution, suspended for one year.

He was also ordered to attend ten rehabilitation days and carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, and made the subject of a two-month curfew from 9pm to 6am.

Ramzan was also disqualified from driving for a year, and told he must undertake an extended driving test before he can gain a full licence.

Judge Hatton added: “I hope very much you will not return to this building in this capacity, and I entertain some optimism that will be the case.”