A drunk tattoo artist who leapt from a moving Mercedes leaving it to career out of control across a recreation ground in Bradford before crashing into a tree has been jailed for 13 months.

Adrian Wanowicz, who had served a three-year prison sentence for robbery in his native Poland, went on to commit further offences while on the run from the police, Bradford Crown Court heard.

He was sentenced on a video link to Leeds Prison and using Skype for dangerous driving and driving over the prescribed alcohol limit in Bradford on September 19 last year and failing to provide a specimen, police obstruction and driving unlicensed and uninsured in Sheffield while on court bail on April 5.

Prosecutor Louise Pryke said the robbery offence dated back to 2006.

Wanowicz, 35, of Ship Hill, Rotherham, had since moved to the UK and was working as a tattoo artist at the time he committed the offences.

Mrs Pryke said the police pursued Wanowicz’s silver Mercedes after seeing him jump a red light at speed at the junction of Otley Road and Bradford Road at 10.40pm.

He had a passenger in the vehicle when he accelerated along Hall Royd and down a dead end.

The “blue light” chase lasted about a minute but Wanowicz then abandoned the car while it was still “in drive”.

He ran off down Westcliffe Road in Shipley leaving it to travel along the pavement by itself, through bushes and across a recreation ground.

If it hadn’t hit the tree it would have crashed into a building, Mrs Pryke said.

Wanowicz was apprehended running away and failed a roadside breath test. He was later confirmed to be over the limit.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Bradford Crown Court on January 22 but left the building before the case was completed.

He was stopped by the police in Sheffield at 2.15am on April 5 at the wheel of a black Fiat Punto. His eyes were glazed, he smelt of intoxicants and there were empty beer bottles in the car.

He told officers he was called David and showed them a false driving licence.

Wanowicz repeatedly failed to provide a specimen of breath.

His barrister, Ian Howard, said his wife and young son would suffer most from his imprisonment.

Wanowicz had learned a hard lesson and vowed never to offend again.

Judge Jonathan Rose jailed him for nine months for the Bradford offences with four months consecutive for the Sheffield matters.

He was banned from driving for three years and four months to begin after his release from prison.

Judge Rose heard that the Mercedes had been scrapped and he made a deprivation order on the Punto.