'Stupid' teen mechanic with learner licence buys car and careers it through streets in 'erratic' police chase

A "stupid" teenage mechanic led police on a dangerous pursuit through Bradford and then attempted to evade capture by hiding behind some parked cars.

Aryaan Khan, 18, was spotted by officers driving a Seat Leon with a smashed rear window on September 22 at around 7.45pm. Prosecutor Peter Byrne told Bradford Crown Court on Wednesday, November 20 that the manner of his driving was noted to be "antisocial and erratic" and a search of it found there was no registered keeper.

He told the court: "The officers signed for it to stop and it increased is speed and failed to stop. It travelled to Thornton Road and went into four lanes of traffic, narrowly missing other vehicles while it navigated its way across two lanes and turned right.

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"It made a sharp right turn against oncoming traffic on Hoxton Street and turned into an alleyway and collided with a telegraph pole. It came to a stop... The defendant ran towards Willow Street and was located in Mortimer Street hiding behind parked cars. He was found to be a provisional licence holder."

The court heard Khan, of Hedge Side, was arrested and interviewed, but answered "no comment" to all questions asked. It was said he was of previous good character. He had pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle dangerously.

Mitigating, Safter Salam, said: "One month and 29 days have passed since this offending and the only offending he has undertaken ever. There has never been police involvement at his home address because of him.

"His mother and sister are in the public gallery."

The Honorary Recorder of Bradford, His Honour Judge Rose, said Khan was driving a car "he shouldn't have even bought." He said: "He comes from an excellent family."

He told him: "It is difficult if not impossible to understand what on earth you were doing in September this year. You're someone who comes from a good family where there is no criminality, no problems that would cause you to rebel against them or reject their way of life.

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"You had employment and the potential in time to take a driving test and that would have furthered your career as a mechanic. You're an immature and foolish young man...These are streets on which many people live and many people drive and walk.

"I don't know where your family live, perhaps they live on a street like that where people like your mum and sister could have been walking along and when you drove in this foolish way at high speed when you don't have the ability to drive sensibly."

The judge said Khan went through red lights during the chase, and had "capacity to kill people." He added: "This was a dreadful piece of driving. It was a minute-and-a-half of this. I bear in mind you're a stupid young man who behaved stupidly and your attempt to evade arrest was stupid, your decision to answer no questions in interview was stupid."

Khan was made the subject of a 12-month sentence suspended for two years. During that time he will have to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work and adhere to a curfew between the hours of 7pm and 7am for the next six months. He was also disqualified from driving for two years, at the end of which he will have to take an extended retest.