Teenage driver Nisar Ali panicked and sped off when the police wanted him to stop in Bedford.
The 19-year-old, who had only a provisional licence, was not insured to drive his friend’s father’s VW, Luton Crown Court heard on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.
Prosecutor John Carmichael said it was 2.45am on Sunday, January 12, 2020, that officers spotted the Volkswagen in the Queens Park area of the town.
When Ali refused to stop, the police, with their blue lights flashing, chased him along Coventry Road, Old Ford End Road, Honey Hill Road, Ouseland Road, Old Ford End Road again, onto Hawthorn Avenue, before stopping in Oldfield Road.
Ali moved over to the passenger side of the car, where he was arrested.
The pursuit lasted between two and two and a half minutes with the VW travelling at times at over 50mph on roads where the limit is 20mph.
When questioned, Ali accepted being the driver, saying he panicked. He said he only had a provisional licence and was not insured.
Ali, of Allen Close, Bedford, appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and having no insurance. He was of previous good character.
In an interview with a probation officer, he said he was out with friends and they had decided to go to McDonalds. When the police appeared, he said his friends told him to get away.
Defending, Derek Johashen said Ali had never been in trouble before. “He regrets what he did and is remorseful,” he said.
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Ali is not working, but hopes to go to Manchester or Birmingham universities this year to study business marketing.
Recorder Patrick Fields told him: “You are not an experienced driver – you are only a provisional licence holder. To drive at such speeds, on wet roads with cars parked either side, was evidently very, very dangerous driving.
“There was some rain and you made a determined effort to avoid the police. It was very dangerous to you and the occupants of the car.”
The judge made a 12-month Community order with a 3-month electronically monitored curfew between 9pm and 6am. Ali was banned from driving for 18 months and must take an extended retest before he gains a licence. He must also pay £320 prosecution.
