A FATHER of four who “dramatically” sped away from the police and led them on a chase around Baildon has been spared an immediate prison sentence.

Ashley Roach wouldn’t be able to see his young children over Christmas if he was locked up in jail during the Covid-19 pandemic, The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Richard Mansell QC, said today.

He had already lost his good character and his driving licence and he had made huge efforts to turn his life around since committing the offences.

Roach, 32, of Troutbeck Avenue, Baildon, was over the drink-drive limit when he was pursued in his Ford Fiesta in the early hours of August 31, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Syam Soni said he was arrested on a warrant and held in custody for two days after not attending a hearing before Bradford and Keighley magistrates on November 6.

On November 9, he admitted dangerous driving, driving over the prescribed alcohol limit and failing to surrender to custody and was committed to the crown court on bail for sentence.

Mr Soni said Roach “dramatically” sped away from police officers in an unmarked vehicle on Otley Road, Bradford, at 1.50am.

The officers activated their sirens and blue lights and pursued the Fiesta which went up to 50mph in 30 zones during the short chase along Green Lane, Cliffe Lane, Cliff Terrace and Baildon Wood Court.

The streets were narrow and winding and Roach clipped the wing mirror of a parked vehicle, Mr Soni said.

He stopped when his route was blocked by a taxi and he was arrested trying to get out of the car. He had 50 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 35.

Roach’s barrister, Shufqat Khan, said he was a man of previous good character who worked hard in the building trade. He panicked that night and the drink he had consumed clouded his judgement.

He was binge drinking at the time and taking drugs as a coping mechanism after being stabbed the previous month.

Mr Khan said Roach had a great deal to lose if he went to prison immediately, including seeing his four young children.

He had already spent two days in custody after mistakenly believing he was due at the magistrates’ court on November 9 when the date was the 6th.

Judge Mansell sentenced Roach to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, with 150 hours of unpaid work and a 20-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

He was banned from driving for 12 months and until he passes an extended retest.