A man has been jailed for two years for a spree of dangerous driving in stolen vehicles that left a trail of damage across Bradford and included the deliberate ramming of two police vehicles on a supermarket car park.

Anthony Ward had already racked up a criminal record of 34 convictions for 109 offences when he drove dangerously three times in less than two months.

Ward, 28, of New Hey Road, East Bowling, Bradford, caused pedestrians to jump clear, struck other vehicles, almost tipped over in a Transit van and crashed into a branch of Asda, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Ward, who was circulated by the police as 'wanted' following the offences, was on prison licence, banned from driving and in breach of a suspended sentence order.

He was remanded in custody after his arrest and sentenced on a video link to HMP Leeds. He pleaded guilty to three sets of dangerous driving offences, committed on September 5 and October 25 and 26 last year; driving while disqualified and uninsured, and theft of a purse.

Prosecutor Ayman Khokhar said Ward was seen smashing a car window to grab the purse at 3pm on September 5. He made off in a stolen Ford Transit on false plates and was pursued by the police along Wakefield Road on to Tong Street.

During the chase, he hit a car and jumped a red light. He was going so fast that the van’s wheels lifted off the ground as it bounced over speed humps.

He turned into a residential area, going so fast in Brompton Road, East Bowling, that the vehicle almost tipped over when it went on to two wheels.

Ward forced pedestrians to jump clear and went the wrong way down Wakefield Road where he jumped out of the van while it was moving and made off. His blood was found on the gear stick, Mr Khokhar said.

On October 25 at 12.38pm, police spotted Ward driving a stolen Toyota. He sped off down Holme Lane hitting a Ford Focus, bouncing off another car and crashing into railings.

Again he ran off but he was identified by a police community support officer.

The following day at 8pm, Ward was again out and about; this time in the Asda car park on Cemetery Road in a stolen Nissan van on false plates.

Two police officers blocked him in but he rammed their vehicles and hit the supermarket building before driving off.

He headed towards Great Horton, flying over speed humps and doing 70mph on Horton Grange Road.

The court heard that the police abandoned the pursuit because it was too dangerous to continue.

Ward was identified from CCTV at Asda and pleaded guilty to all the offences at his first hearing at the crown court.

His record included a string of theft offences and dangerous driving. Ward’s barrister, Ellen Shaw, said he was very remorseful and determined to change his ways. He was realistic and knew he would get an immediate prison sentence.

Miss Shaw said he was beginning to understand the impact his offending was having on others.

Recorder Patrick Palmer jailed Ward for two years and he was banned from driving for four years and until he passes an extended test.

Recorder Palmer said it was only by good luck that no one was injured. Vehicles were damaged and two police cars deliberately rammed.

“This must have been terrifying for members of the public to witness,’ he said.