A drugged-up driver smashed a Mercedes into a house gable during a prolonged police pursuit, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

James Wade was driving the car on false plates with no full licence or insurance when he accelerated off through Queensbury on June 16 last year.

Prosecutor Jonathan Sharp said 23-year-old Wade, who had two passengers with him, failed to stop for the police in the Mercedes c180.

Wade, of Mitchell Street, Sowerby Bridge, went at up to 70mph through built-up areas during the 1.7 mile chase that included Cooper Lane, Shelf, and Highgate Road.

He drove on the wrong side of the road, causing an oncoming vehicle to brake to avoid a collision, the court was told.

Wade turned off the headlights for a time in a bid to escape from the police.

At one point he hit a central bollard and the car’s wheels lifted off the road.

Wade then lost control of the Mercedes, span 180 degrees and struck a bollard, a lamp-post and the gable end of a house, Mr Sharp said.

Arresting police officers reported that his speech was slurred and the vehicle smelled of cannabis.

Wade went on to plead guilty to dangerous driving, having no licence and driving while three-and-a-half times the limit for cannabis.

He had no previous convictions but he was cautioned for possession of cannabis a month after the incident, Mr Sharp told the court.

Abdul Shakoor, Wade’s barrister, said his client had severe mental health problems.

He needed to get to Halifax that night and was loaned the car. He made the foolish deci-sion to drive which he now regretted. He then panicked when the police ordered him to stop.

Recorder Anthony Hawks said it was “a shocking offence of dangerous driving.”

Wade had borrowed the car after taking a substantial amount of cannabis and then led the police on a significant pursuit of nearly two miles, reaching speeds of 70mph in residential areas with a 30 limit.

“You’re lucky that you didn’t kill yourself or anyone else,” Recorder Hawks said.

Wade was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

He must undertake 20 rehabilitation activity days with the probation service.

He was banned from driving for 18 months.

Recorder Hawks warned him that he must co-operate fully with the probation service to complete the order or he would be breached and summoned back to the court.