A DANGER driver who jumped red lights and sent pedestrians scattering in a police pursuit in Bradford city centre has been jailed for eight months.

Jibran Rahim was seen speeding in Kirkgate in a blue Volkswagen Golf three weeks after he was banned from driving, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Rahim, 30, of Rochester Street, Thornbury, Bradford, had a young woman passenger with him when he accelerated away from the police at 9pm on August 28, prosecutor Paul Canfield said.

Rahim went through a red light on John Street, in the city centre, and clocked up 40mph on Darley Street.

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He reached double the speed limit in the “blue light chase,” forcing his way through traffic, twice mounting the kerb, ignoring red lights and scattering pedestrians, the court heard.

Rahim stopped to let the woman “bail out” on Bradford Lane before being pursued in circles past his home address.

He sounded his horn to move traffic out of his way before abandoning the car after the seven-minute pursuit.

He then fled on foot, the court heard. But he was apprehended very quickly, Mr Canfield said.

The court heard that Rahim had seven previous convictions for 17 offences, but nothing for dangerous driving.

He was banned for 12 months on August 7 under the totting up provision.

Rahim pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without a licence or insurance.

His barrister, Michael Collins, said Rahim’s mother had severe mental health problems and relied on her son to take her shopping and to medical appointments.

Mr Collins said that Rahim did not know he was disqualified from driving, but he knew he did not have insurance when he agreed to give a family member a lift.

He was sorry for putting other road users at risk and for letting down his wife and his mother.

Rahim had a good employment record and had been offered work in a bakery.

Mr Collins said that the Golf had been impounded by the police, but his client did not want it back anyway.

“He doesn’t want the temptation of owning a vehicle,” Mr Collins said.

He conceded it was “a ridiculous piece of judgment” by Rahim but no one was injured and no damage was caused.

Recorder Anthony Hawks said that people who drove dangerously while uninsured and disqualified were a scourge in Bradford and posed “a lethal risk” to others.

“The courts would fail in their public duty if they didn’t jail such people immediately,” he said.

Recorder Hawks told Rahim: “It was your choice to drive in this manner and put others at risk.”

Rahim was banned from driving for 22 months.