A DANGEROUS driver who failed to stop for police in Bradford has been given five months to turn things around.

Nabaal Jahangir, 29, who was jailed for driving dangerously in 2014, and was only sentenced for driving while disqualified in February this year, was given another chance at Bradford Crown Court.

He had been drinking and taking drugs when he was spotted by police officers on duty in the Bolton Road area of Undercliffe at 6am on April 17, during the first national coronavirus lockdown.

After seeing the police officers, he took off in the Volkswagen Golf he was driving, reaching speeds of 50 mph in a 30mph zone on Bolton Lane.

The court heard how in a short pursuit, with the officers using their blue lights, Jahangir, went through several junctions at speed, straight across a dual carriageway, even going down a one way street in the wrong direction.

He reached Severn Road, before turning on to a dirt track and stopping in a car park. He had been carrying a passenger during the chase, the court heard.

Officers thought he smelled of alcohol, but he refused to give a specimen for analysis. When he was searched, police found a packet of white powder down his sock, which turned out to be cocaine.

He refused again at the police station to provide a sample for a breath test, and gave no comment throughout an interview.

At his first appearance before magistrates, he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, failing to stop, driving with no insurance, the possession of cocaine, and failing to provide a specimen.

The court also heard that he received a 12 month community order in February for driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance and failing to surrender. He had only carried out a few hours of unpaid work before the lockdown began.

In his defence the court heard that unpaid work had effectively been suspended since the lockdown, so he had been unable to carry out any more.

His barrister described how he had taken alcohol and drugs that morning, and he decided to drive to try and find some more alcohol

He added that while there was the potential for other road users to be put in danger, the roads were quiet due to the lockdown and the fact that it was so early in the morning.

Jahangir, of Myrtle Road, Ravensthorpe, had now been free of both drugs and alcohol for the last three months, the court was told.

Judge Gibson said that while it was a serious set of offences, he would defer the sentence until April next year. He said he wanted to see a "sustained period" without any arrests and the completion of the community order.

If successful Jahangir would not go to custody but probably receive a suspended sentence. Otherwise it would be an immediate custodial sentence.

"I do think you are capable of turning things around successfully."

"Make sure you grasp the opportunity," he added.