A DRIVER who tried to avoid police was stopped after a 110mph chase.

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard how gambling addict Mohammed Ahmed's car was spotted in Queens Road, Manchester in the early hours of February 25.

The VW Golf had come to officers' attention because it had no insurance.

But Duncan Wilcock, prosecuting, said 24-year-old Ahmed refused to open the door or hand over keys and sped off.

Mr Wilcock told how Ahmed hurtled towards the city centre, heading through three sets of red traffic lights.

Other police joined in the pursuit, which lasted more than 15 minutes, as the Golf headed onto the M60 and M66 at speeds of up to 110mph in lane one.

He then drove onto the M60 clockwise at junction 18, coming off at the next junction, where he headed round the roundabout the wrong way.

"He forced members of the public to take evasive action," said Mr Wilcock.

Ahmed, who was carrying two passengers, went back onto the motorway, colliding with roadwork cones at one point.

"The officers had to use tactical contact to bring this defendant's vehicle to a stop," said Mr Wilcock, who added that the VW Golf has now been seized.

Ahmed, of Braemar Drive, Bury, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and having no insurance.

Philip Mahoney, defending, said Ahmed, who has a previous conviction for drink driving, had panicked when approached by police.

"He made an astonishingly foolish decision," said Mr Mahoney.

"The longer he drove from police the further down the rabbit hole he went."

He added that Ahmed had been addicted to gambling in casinos, running up debts of more than £5,000, but the premises' closure due to the coronavirus crisis has helped him break the habit and now he works weekends at a family takeaway.

Describing Ahmed's driving as "quite appalling" Judge Angela Nield sentenced him to eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

He will be subject to an 8pm to 8am curfew for two months, except Friday, Saturday and Sunday when it will be 1am to 8am.

In addition he will have to participate in 20 days of rehabilitation activities and a thinking skills programme.

Ahmed was banned from holding a driving licence for two years, after which he will have to take an extended retest.