A FORD Transit driver who leapt from his moving van after running six red lights in a chase around central Bradford on a busy afternoon has been jailed for 15 months.

Christopher Burton was paid £50 to drive the vehicle on stolen plates to the city from Manchester although he was uninsured and disqualified, Bradford Crown Court heard today. He was spotted by the police on Manchester Road at 3.45pm on January 16 in the van that was registered in the London area.

Prosecutor Matthew Stewart said it made an illegal right turn and was pursued by the police on to the Shipley Airedale Road. Burton went down Leeds Road on the wrong side of the carriageway, running red lights and narrowly missing a line of heavy traffic.

He continued to speed away on a circuit of central Bradford that included the Shipley/Airedale Road, Canal Road and Bolton Road. He almost collided with two vehicles before travelling on the wrong side of King Street and jumping out of the moving van on Queen Street.

Burton, 26, of Gatesgarth Road, Middleton, Manchester, was apprehended soon afterwards. He pleaded guilty before the magistrates to dangerous driving and driving while disqualified and uninsured but failed to answer his bail at the crown court on March 10.

He was arrested and held in custody on remand at HMP Forest Bank.

Burton admitted breach of his bail at today’s hearing.

He had five previous convictions for ten offences, including dangerous driving and driving unlicensed and uninsured.

Ayman Khokhar said in mitigation that Burton was short of money when he agreed to drive the van to Bradford for £50.

The pursuit lasted six minutes so wasn’t the longest piece of dangerous driving and thankful there was no injury or damage caused.

Burton was working as a lorry cab builder in Oldham when he was arrested for breach of his bail and hoped to return to that employment.

He had a supportive partner and a small child.

Judge Ahmed Nadim said Burton ran six sets of red lights and mounted the kerb twice putting members of the public at risk in a congested city centre area.

He was jailed for 14 months, plus one month consecutive for breach of bail, and banned from driving for 27 and a half months and until he passes an extended driving test.