A speeding driver skidded and crashed through two gardens causing £4,500 damage while being pursued by the police at up to 95mph.

Tafara Zinyuku accelerated away in a Skoda Octavia shortly after 10pm on January 22 last year, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

He led the police on a four-minute high-speed pursuit in which he reached 95mph in a 30 zone on Cooper Lane in Shelf.

Prosecutor Stephen Grattage said the chase began on Boltby Lane in Buttershaw, Bradford, and ended when Zinyuku skidded and crashed through two gardens in Beechwood Road, knocking down a tree and causing extensive damage to a vehicle.

He did £1,000 damage at the first property and £3,500 at the second address.

Zinyuku, 34, of Beechwood Grove, Wibsey, turned his lights off during the chase. Other road users were forced to take evasive action and at one point he mounted the pave-ment to get past vehicles ahead of him. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, assaulting a police officer as an emergency worker and possession of a small amount of cannabis.

The court heard he had 15 previous convictions for offences including assault occasion-ing actual bodily harm, careless driving and resisting a police officer.

Glenn Parsons said in mitigation that Zinyuku had made good progress on a community order since committing the offences more than a year ago.

He had a good job and was very highly thought of by his employer. He was in a position to pay full compensation to the householders.

A custodial sentence would impact on his partner and young child, Mr Parsons said.

Recorder Jason Pitter QC said it was a troubling offence because it took place more than a year ago but it was “dangerous driving of the worst kind.”

Zinyuku was pursued at night-time through residential areas at high speeds, taking blind corners, driving with the lights off and mounting the pavement.

He then crashed through a garden wall and into a second garden, knocking down a tree and damaging a vehicle. When he was arrested he caused minor injury to a police officer and threatened to headbutt him.

But Zinyuku had since proved that he could hold down a good job and lead a responsible life.

He was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 250 hours of unpaid work.

He must pay a total of £5,100 in compensation and costs and he was banned from driv-ing for three years and until he passes an extended retest.