Driver in high speed chase jailed

During the pursuit which began shortly before 11pm, Joseph Wall reached 60mph in Stonegate Road and Stainbeck Avenue, in Leeds – a 30mph zone – before turning his lights off at Potternewton Lane forcing his way through other traffic.

He then went around a roundabout in Scott Hall Road in the wrong direction before driving down that dual carriageway on the wrong side of the road, forcing oncoming vehicles to take evasive action.

He approached traffic lights without reducing speed and turned into Sackville Street, a one-way road, still going in the wrong direction, Mehran Nassiri, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court.

Officers saw the Vauxhall Vectra turn into Meanwood Road on the wrong carriageway, narrowly avoiding collision with two other cars before turning into Cambridge Street doing an estimated 85mph.

Soon after the car was abandoned near Holborn Approach and Wall was found in the home of his passenger nearby, hiding fully clothed under a duvet.

Wall, 22 of Woodlea Square, Leeds, was jailed for 12 months and disqualified for two years after admitting dangerous driving and having no insurance on March 14.

Mr Justice Openshaw told him “it is about as bad a piece of dangerous driving as it is possible to imagination.”

He said young men who chose to drive in that manner to get away from the police had to face serious consequences.

Simon Alexander, for Wall, said he described his own actions as absolute stupidity. His passenger was wanted by police and he acted out of misplaced loyalty.