Driver who led police on high speed chase through Harehills avoids immediate jail at Leeds Crown Court

A Judge said it was "a miracle"  no-one was injured when a driver led police on a high speed chase through narrow residential  streets in Harehills.
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Asad Mahmood sped through a red light and failed to give way at a junction while trying to escape, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Mahmood - who did not have a driving licence and had cannabis in the car - panicked when police in a marked car attempted to carry out a routine stop.

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David Ward, prosecuting, said police spotted Mahmood at the wheel of Seat Leon pulling out of Florence Place at around 4.30pm on September 25.

Police saw the Seat Leon Asad Mahmood was driving pulling out of Florence Place in Harehills.
Image: GoogklePolice saw the Seat Leon Asad Mahmood was driving pulling out of Florence Place in Harehills.
Image: Googkle
Police saw the Seat Leon Asad Mahmood was driving pulling out of Florence Place in Harehills. Image: Googkle

Mahmood, 27, who had two passengers in the car sped away and a pursuit started.

CCTV footage from one police officer's body worn camera was played in court.

Mahmood reached speeds of 50mph on congested and narrow residential streets as shocked pedestrians looked on.

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And Mahmood, of St Wilfrid's Garth, Harehills, drove at 40mph in a 20mph zone.

Mr Ward said: "There was extreme danger caused to members of the public."

The pursuit ended when Mahmood's path was blocked in by a taxi which had stopped in the middle of a narrow road with cars parked either side.

Officers removed the keys from Mahmood's car and arrested him.

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They found a small pot of cannabis in Mahmood's car during a search.

The court heard Mahmood, who is married with children, had lost his job in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Mahmood told police he had been a cannabis user from a young age.

Mahmood admitted dangerous driving and possessing cannabis.

Mitigating, Ben Thomas, said Mahmood's wife has recently had a baby and said the family would suffer if he was jailed.

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Judge Geoffrey Marson QC handed Mahmood a six month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and banned him from driving for 12 months.

Judge Marson said he knew the area where the incident happened, telling Mahmood: "The streets are narrow, it's a residential area, it's busy, it was in the middle of the afternoon.

"You drove through a red light at greatly excessive speed, failed to give way, it's a miracle no-one was injured or worse."