A MAN who led police on a lengthy pursuit through the streets of Bradford has been jailed for an "appalling piece" of dangerous driving.

James Keat, 42, was driving a stolen VW Tiguan when police spotted him in the early hours of the morning on January 18 last month in Wilsden.

Keat, who Bradford Crown Court heard had 32 previous convictions for 128 offences, drove on the wrong side of the road, at speeds of up to 90 mph, through a couple of red lights, and drove through two private gardens.

He admitted driving dangerously, driving while disqualified and without insurance and was sentenced to 12 months in prison, and further disqualified from driving for two years. He must also take an extended retest before being legally able to drive again.

The court was told that Keat, of Brighton Road, Crawley, had been recalled to prison and he appeared at the hearing via videolink from HMP Leeds in Armley.

Dashcam footage from two different police vehicles who were in pursuit of Keat showed him driving at speeds along both main roads and residential roads from Wilsden to Heaton with cars parked on both sides, before officers were able to arrest him.

The court was told that police officers on duty that evening had been aware that a VW Tiguan had been stolen in a burglary the previous night. So when they spotted the vehicle heading towards them in Wilsden at around 2am, they pursued the driver.

In interview he denied any knowledge of the burglary 24 hours before, saying that he had been provided with the car by an associate.

It emerged during the hearing that he had a number of previous convictions spanning three decades, for offences including burglary taking a vehicle without consent, aggravated vehicle taking and handling stolen goods.

Ian Howard. for Keat, said he had relocated to the south coast, but upon returning to Bradford briefly had been contacted by former associates.

In sentencing, Judge David Hatton QC said: "It was in any view an appalling piece of driving and highly dangerous. You reached speeds of over 90mph, passed through two private gardens. It was a prolonged piece of driving in an effort to evade the police. There were other vehicles on the road and the safety of the police officers themselves was put in jeopardy. The offence is aggravated by the fact that you were at the time a disqualified driver."

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