Unlicensed driver led police on dangerous chase in Leeds after he was spotted speeding as he went to pick up his mobile phone

Adam Belt narrowly avoided collisions as he sped along roads between Rothwell and East Ardsley in Leeds

The 30-year-old dad, of Stanhope Road, Thorpe, Wakefield, was handed a suspended sentence today after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.

Kristian Cavanagh, prosecuting. said an officer noticed a blue Vauxhall Astra driving at speed on Middleton Lane in Rothwell at around 6.15pm on August 23 last year.

Mr Cavanagh said the officer turned his car around to follow the driver.

Belt increased his speed so the officer activated his blue lights and sirens and a pursuit began.

He had to brake heavily on more than one occasion in order to avoid colliding with other road users.

Belt entered a 40mph zone and braked heavily before a bend, causing debris to be thrown into the air as he nearly lost control of the vehicle.

He almost lost control again as he overtook vehicles on the wrong side of the road.

The defendant drove at up to 70mph as he approached a red light.

He was blocked in on Common Lane in East Ardsley.

Belt was interviewed in the back of the police car and said he owned the car but panicked as he did not have a full licence and was not insured.

Belt, who only held a provisional licence and has never passed a driving test, has no previous convictions.

He said Belt, who works as a groundworker, told him that he usually gets a lift to and from work and on the day of the offence left his mobile phone in a colleague's work van.

Mr Berry said Belt decided to drive to get the phone and panicked when he saw police him driving as he does not have a full licence.

Richard Reed, mitigating, said no one was injured and no property was damaged during the pursuit.

Recorder David Gordon told Belt: "You showed complete disregard not only for your safety, but for others'."

Belt was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was also banned from driving for two years.