A TEENAGER has avoided an immediate jail sentence after fleeing from police on a motorbike.

Callum Culkin, 19, appeared at Bradford Crown Court yesterday to be sentenced after pleading guilty to dangerous driving on the afternoon of April 3 last year, on residential streets around the Harrogate Road area of the city. The court heard he and a passenger were not wearing helmets and the bike was being ridden at up to 50mph in 30mph zones. The chase, which lasted for a matter of minutes, came to an end when the bike swerved into some bushes and the pair attempted to make off on foot. Culkin jumped over a fence, which had a 14ft drop, and had to be taken to hospital.

Andrew Dallas, for Culkin, said he had not offended before or after the incident, is now a father, and highlighted the length of time it had taken for the matter to come to court. Culkin was said to have “panicked”. Mr Dallas said: “It was a short but isolated incident and he’s genuinely remorseful.”

Judge Colin Burn handed Culkin a 10-week sentence, suspended for 18 months, but said there must be an immediate element of punishment by 180 hours of unpaid work. He will be disqualified from driving for one year and must take an extended retest.

He told Culkin: “This is a problem, not just in Bradford, but around the country, people driving stupidly and dangerously.

“This is your first appearance in the courts and you must make sure it’s the last time you trouble the courts.”

He was said to have a low risk of re-offending.