A young driver who had a head-on crash during a high-speed police chase has been spared an immediate custodial sentence.

The judge told 20-year-old Sahram Mahmood that his youth and previous good character had helped to save him from being locked up.

Mahmood, of Aygill Avenue, Heaton, Bradford, was at the wheel of a Toyota when he sped away from the police on the city’s Planetrees Road at 10.10pm on August 20 last year.

The court heard that two officers in a marked patrol car saw him coming the other way and ordered him to stop so that checks could be made.

A chase ensued in which Mahmood sped off down Bowling Back Lane and then at up to 75mph in a 30 zone along Wakefield Road.

Uninsured Mahmood then crashed head-on into another vehicle, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

During the two-minute pursuit, he had driven round a blind bend while overtaking an-other vehicle.

The patrol car going after him pulled back when he went the wrong way round a round-about because it was too dangerous to continue at that speed, the court heard.

After the crash, Mahmood tried to run away but he was apprehended.

Following his arrest, he made full and frank admissions to the police, the court was told.

He went on to plead guilty to dangerous driving and to being uninsured.

Ella Embleton, Mahmood’s barrister, said he was very remorseful.

He was of previous good character and had recently been offered full-time employ-ment.

He panicked when he drove away from the police and now realised the potential consequences of his actions.

Mahmood’s mother was seriously ill and he provided a great deal of support to her and his siblings.

Recorder Simon Jackson QC said Mahmood’s behaviour that night was “outright stupidity.”

He asked the prosecution if anyone in the vehicle that he crashed into was injured and was told there were no reports of anyone being hurt in the collision.

Recorder Jackson sentenced Mahmood to eight months’ custody in a young offender institution, suspended for two years, with 150 hours of unpaid work.

He must also obey a four-month overnight curfew order and do up to 25 rehabilitation activity days with the probation service.

Mahmood was banned from driving for 18 months and until he passes an extended re-test.