A MAN who took his mother's car, drove on the wrong side of the road during a police chase before injuring a pedestrian has avoided jail.

Jack Melrose, 24, took his mother's Ford Focus without her knowledge and drove dangerously on a number of streets in Bradford.

Police officers spotted Melrose driving and then a chase took place.

Melrose drove on the wrong side of the road on occasions during the five-minute-long chase, including approaching a mini-roundabout at Lister Lane on the wrong side and then travelling over it.

He also weaved in and out of parked vehicles during the chase.

Melrose lost control of the car and it crashed into a parked vehicle on Ashbourne Way, Bolton, Bradford, which spun around and hit a pedestrian. She became pinned against a small garage when the parked car hit her.

She suffered several broken toes and bruising and was in hospital for three weeks. Upon her release from hospital, she had to use a walking stick and a frame, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

The pedestrian was walking back from a nearby Tesco's after buying sweets ahead of Halloween celebrations two days later.

Melrose's car came to a stop after the crash and he ran off until he was stopped by police and subsequently arrested.

Helen Chapman, prosecuting, said the pedestrian's experience was at the tail end of a piece of dangerous driving by Melrose.

He drove at speed, including at 40mph in a 30mph zone on Ennerdale Road.

Melrose, of Kingsdale Drive, Bolton, Bradford, drove dangerously on Grasmere Road, Ennerdale Road, Idle Road, Undercliffe Road, Dudley Hill Road, Wellington Road, Lister Lane, Lodore Road, Bolton Road, Grove House Road and Ashbourne Way.

The incident took place at around 2pm on October 29, 2019.

Melrose was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, for the dangerous driving offence.

He faced no further charges for causing injury to the pedestrian. Melrose was not insured to drive his mother's car.

Ian Hudson, mitigating, said Melrose was genuinely regretful, remorseful and ashamed of his actions on the day of the incident. Melrose also apologised to the injured pedestrian during the hearing. He had pleaded guilty to the dangerous driving charge at an earlier hearing.

Melrose's mother appeared in court today to support her son and the court was told they had reconciled following the incident.

Mrs Recorder Taryn Turner told Melrose: "You have come within a whisker of going to prison today.

"You got out of the motorcar and tried to leg it to avoid the consequences of your dangerous driving.

"You were not insured. This lady is going to find getting compensation somewhat difficult."

He was also ordered to be under curfew for six months between 8pm and 6am each night. He was disqualified from driving for 18 months and can only drive again after that once he has passed an extended driving test.

Melrose must also complete 25 days of rehabilitation activity and 180 hours unpaid work.