A MAN in a stolen car who led police on a 17-minute chase before crashing into a lamppost was found to be twice over the drink-drive limit when breathalysed.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Mohammad Rohman was already disqualified from driving when the incident occurred at around 2am on September 2, 2023, and that he had a lengthy record of driving offences including dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, driving without a licence and insurance, and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

Sentencing him to 14 months in prison, Mr Recorder Mark McKone said 34-year-old Rohman “might kill someone” if he carried on driving.

Prosecutor Verity Barnes said police officers on patrol on Harewood Street in Bradford spotted a silver Audi S3 that had earlier been reported stolen.

They signalled with lights and sirens for the car to stop but instead, it sped off, beginning what would become a 17-minute police pursuit.

One of the 'most dangerous pursuits' officer had been involved in

Rohman reached 70mph in 30mph zones, jumped several red lights, drove at oncoming vehicles, drove on the wrong side of the road, drove the wrong way around numerous roundabouts, and mounted pavements in his attempts to escape.

At one point there were people standing in the road that Rohman “took no consideration for”.

The car then stopped in the middle of a junction prompting officers to believe the driver was about to surrender, but it had only stalled and suddenly drove off again at speed.

In a statement one of the police officers said it was “one of the most prolonged and dangerous pursuits” he had ever been involved in.

The chase ended when Rohman tried to drive the wrong way around Thornbury roundabout but collided with a lamppost, which caused extensive damage to the front of the stolen Audi.

Despite the driver’s window being broken by police in an attempt to apprehend Rohman he kept revving the engine and trying to move the car.

Parva spray was then used to subdue him, he was forcibly removed from the car, restrained and handcuffed to it.

He gave the police false details and failed a roadside breath test, which revealed he was more than twice over the drink-drive limit. He was then arrested. Checks showed he was disqualified from driving until September 5, 2026.

Further attempts to breathalyse him proved unsuccessful as he blew around the tube and then refused to provide a sample. In interview, he answered “no comment” to all questions asked.

He later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, driving without a licence, and failing to provide a specimen.

Driving 'too serious' to avoid immediate sentence

Mitigating, Harry Crowson said Rohman, of Salts Mill Road, Saltaire, had “invasive” mental health issues and that drink and drugs had contributed to his self-destructive behaviour. He said the crash had proved to be a turning point as he had not taken drink or drugs since his arrest.

In sentencing Rohman, Mr Recorder McKone said his misuse of drugs and alcohol had manifested itself in a low-level of psychosis, hallucinations caused by cocaine use, and what doctors had described as “bizarre symptoms” made worse by drug-taking.

He said: “The reality is that you have continued to make your mental health worse by taking drugs.

“This driving is too serious to avoid an immediate prison sentence.

“In my judgment you are not somebody who is capable of being rehabilitated to the extent of not continuing to offend.”

He jailed Rohman for a total of 14 months, disqualified him from driving for three years and seven months, and ordered him to pass an extended retest before driving again.