A FLEEING driver who hit three cars and crashed into a house wall during a police pur-suit across Bradford has been spared an immediate prison sentence after turning his life around.

Soheb Malik’s VW Passat flew through the air after he struck the first two vehicles be-fore he collided with the third and then drove into the wall, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

Following his arrest, he accepted that he had been “driving like an idiot.”

Malik, 27, of Southmere Road, Great Horton, Bradford, pleaded guilty to driving dan-gerously in the early afternoon of October 15, 2020.

The court heard that he attracted the attention of the police on Rebecca Street in central Bradford.

He turned on to Great Horton Road and mounted the kerb to avoid an unmarked police car that was blocking his way.

The pursuit went on to Laisteridge Lane where he narrowly avoided a pedestrian before hitting the three vehicles and the house wall.

The court heard he had tried to drive between two lines of traffic when the collisions took place. He then ran off but he was detained by the police.

Malik told them he didn’t realise at first that the car that drove across his path was a police vehicle. He then panicked and failed to stop.

His barrister, David McGonigal, said he was licensed and insured to drive his car. His in-surance company had paid out to repair the damage.

The pursuit was over a short distance and no one was injured.

The offence was committed in October, 2020, and since then Malik had got his life back on track, Mr McGonigal said.

He had a good job and he was now married and saving for a house.

Judge Ahmed Nadim sentenced him to eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 250 hours of unpaid work.

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

He was also ordered to pay £400 for the cost of the prosecution.

Judge Nadim heard that Malik’s probation officer had assessed him as a low risk of reoffending.

But the judge said he had shown little regard for his own safety and even less for the safety of the public and their property.

However, he deserved the opportunity to demonstrate to himself, his family and society that he had turned a corner in his life in the almost 16 months since committing the of-fence.