A TEENAGE dangerous driver who did 100mph while being chased by the police in the Leeds Road area of Bradford was only stopped when the police deployed a Stinger device, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

Ben Coulson, 18, was seen by officers on patrol at 1am on July 13 exceeding the speed limit in the Bramhope area in a BMW 1 Series.

Coulson, who had no licence or insurance, sped off and was pursued in a ‘blue light’ chase for four minutes, prosecutor Tayo Dasaolu said.

He reached 90mph on Leeds Road, hit the kerb and wasn’t in control of the car as its tyres squealed.

Coulson, of Gray Avenue, Shipley, accelerated off up Harrogate Road at 75mph and ran a red light before reaching 100mph in a 50 zone.

He had two passengers in the car with him and came to a stop only when a stinger was deployed. He then slowed to 40pmh and the vehicle was boxed in by the police.

He told them the car belonged to his partner’s mother and then made no comment when questioned in interview.

The court heard he had no previous convictions.

In mitigation, it was stated that Coulson now admitted that he had been stupid.

He had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity at the magistrates’ court to dangerous driving and driving with no licence or insurance.

He was a naïve young man with family responsibilities, the court was told.

He lived with his pregnant partner and her two children and was keen to find full-time employment to support the family.

His probation officer had assessed him as being at a low risk of reoffending.

Recorder Judy Dawson told Coulson he had risked his own life and that of his passengers, members of the public and the police officers who had to stop him. She commended them for deploying the stinger to bring the BMW to a halt.

She said Coulson had ‘broken almost every rule in the Highway Code’ that night.

He had taken the incredibly selfish option of driving dangerously to avoid being caught without a licence and insurance.

Although the chase lasted only four minutes, he stopped only when he drove over the stinger.

Coulson was sentenced to ten months’ in a young offender institution, suspended for two years, with 200 hours of unpaid work.

He must undertake 12 months supervision, with ten rehabilitation activity days, and obey a four-month electronically monitored curfew.

He was banned from driving for two years and until he passes an extended retest.