"he went through the traffic lights without braking or observing other traffic."
Wasim Iqbal, aged 21, of Bolton, was jailed for 14 months on Tuesday, December 18, 2018, at Bolton Crown Court for dangerous driving.
The court heard he had been travelling at speed and later turned off his headlights in an attempt to evade police.
David Bentley, prosecuting, told the court how the police spotted Iqbal driving a BMW and travelling at speed on Wigan Road, Bolton at 11 pm on November 17, 2018. Police decided to follow him.
After leading the police car along Addington Road, Sutton Road and back onto Wigan Road, Iqbal turned off his headlights and reached speeds of 90mph.
As he drove along Manchester Road, Bolton, Iqbal’s speed increased to 100mph as he went through a number of red traffic lights.
Mr Bentley said: “At traffic lights with Bolton Road which were on red, he went through the traffic lights without braking or observing other traffic.
“He sped through the next set of traffic lights, which were also on red, even faster, at 100mph and again at the junction with Dicconson Lane before turning onto De Havilland Way.”
During the police chase, a police helicopter was used and even a stinger which is designed to deflate a vehicle’s tyres. However, they failed to stop the 21-year-old.
Mr Bentley added: “It did not seem to have the effect anticipated.”
Iqbal was eventually boxed in by police vehicles on Chorley Old Road and the vehicle came to a stop.
After the chase ended, Iqbal refused to unlock his door. Police had to smash the window and pull out Iqbal, who had made himself rigid and held onto an officer’s leg.
In addition, police found a small bag of MDMA on Iqbal. He admitted his driving had been “terrible”.
It was heard that the vehicle used by Iqbal was owned by his sister.
At the time of the incident, Iqbal was already banned from holding a licence after being convicted of dangerous driving in 2016.
Hugh McKee, defending Iqbal said: “He is simply someone who is obsessed with cars.
Mr McKee told the court that Iqbal claimed a friend had suffered a death in the family and he had used his sister’s car to give them a lift.
He added: “When he realised the police were behind him, he makes no bones about it, he tried to get away.”
Iqbal pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while banned, failing to stop for police, having no insurance and possessing Class A drugs.
Judge Timothy Stead said it was “astonishing” that no one was killed or injured during Iqbal’s 20 minutes of appalling driving.
Sentencing him, Judge Stead said: “It [the driving] was as bad as you can imagine without damage to properties or injuries to persons.
“How you avoided very serious injury or death, either to yourself or someone else, I don’t know.”
As well as being sentenced to 14 months in prison, Iqbal was banned from driving for five and a half years and will need to take an extended test if he wants to reapply for a driving licence.
Judge Stead praised the efforts of the pursuing police officers. He said: “They proceeded with remarkable skill and persistence.”
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