A NEWLY released prisoner is back behind bars after “beaching” his uninsured Audi A4 on bollards while trying to escape from the police.

Richard Edwards had been out of jail for one day when he bought the car, even though he had no driving licence, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Edwards, 35, of Upper Meadows, Queensbury, Bradford, was ordered to stop by the police at 5am on September 8, prosecutor Philip Adams said yesterday.

He was told to turn off the car engine in Chelwood Drive but reversed at speed into a parked police vehicle and sped off.

He drove on to a grassed area in nearby Rayner Mount, and tried to squeeze the Audi between bollards. He again backed into the pursuing police vehicle before the car became stuck on the bollards and he ran off.

Mr Adams said Edwards was arrested later that day. He told police he bought the car after his release from prison but claimed someone else was driving it.

Edwards, who was recalled to jail on licence, pleaded guilty on a video link to Leeds Prison to driving dangerously and having no licence.

His barrister, Stephen Wood, said Edwards did obtain insurance for the car but it was invalid because he had no driving licence.

Mr Wood said it was a short police pursuit with only minor damage.

Edwards was jailed for nine months by the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, and banned from driving for 18 months.