A father of three panicked and led the police on a chase across Bradford because he was seen driving on the first day of the Covid-19 lockdown, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Jamie Rollings feared he might be breaking the rules and put his foot down in his Ford van after doing an abrupt U turn.

Rollings, 29, of Idle Road, Bradford, had passed his driving test just two weeks before he accelerated off at 8pm on March 24 last year, the court was told today.

He ignored the police vehicle’s blue lights, skidded on to Harrogate Road and went the wrong way through a roundabout near Dudley Hill Road, all while doing well over the speed limit.

Rollings then abandoned the van, leaving his driving licence behind in the vehicle.

The police went to his address and the door was slammed shut on them.

Rollings, who went on to admit dangerous driving, was arrested in the garden, breathless and sweating, the court heard.

He had 12 previous convictions for 20 offences, including two charges of driving without insurance dating back to 2009.

The court heard in mitigation that he panicked because he thought he would be in trouble for driving during lockdown.

He was aware that the police pursuit was a serious aggravating feature of the case and that a custodial sentence was a very real possibility.

But there was no injury, damage or collision and although he was going too fast, he wasn’t going at grossly excessive speeds.

He had no convictions at all since 2014 and no pattern of driving offences on his record.

He was the father of three children and worked full-time as a labourer. A reference from his employer spoke of him as hardworking, trustworthy and good with customers.

Recorder Judy Dawson said the police had to brake sharply to avoid a collision when Rollings did an about-turn and sped off.

But he had the good sense to stop the van and the roads would have been quiet because of the lockdown.

She said that Rollings’ probation officer assessed him as being at a low risk of reoffending. He had a stable family life and there was a good prospect of rehabilitation.

He was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and banned from driving for 15 months and until he takes an extended retest.

He must undertake the Thinking Skills Programme as part of a rehabilitation activity requirement with the probation service.