Drug driver hit member of the public during dangerous police chase then stole £9,000 worth of tyres from bus manufacturing firm

David Clayton was also part of a gang which stole £9,000 worth of tyres after breaking into the grounds of a bus manufacturing company.

Leeds Crown Court heard police officers on patrol in the Beeston area of Leeds on June 26 last year saw a Citroen C4 parked on Trentham Street.

A man got out of the vehicle and ran off when he saw the officers, leaving Clayton inside the vehicle.

The officers approached the car but Clayton sped off in the vehicle.

The officers followed and dashcam footage, which was played in court, showed Clayton driving at double the speed limit along narrow streets in busy residential areas.

He ignored give way signs and other motorists had to take evasive action to avoid a collision.

The 40-year-old defendant tested positive for cocaine after he was arrested.

He was also disqualified from driving at the time of the incident.

Clayton was released on bail and but committed an offence of theft at business premises in Shurburn-in-Elmet on July 18.

Charlotte Noddings, prosecuting, said a member of staff at Optare was checking security cameras and noticed an Iveco van parked near to the perimeter fence.

The staff member called police and took a note of the registration number as the vehicle appeared to be rocking.

It was later discovered that a hole had been cut in the fence.

Police officers spotted the van a short time later on the M62.

The vehicle stopped and two passengers got out and ran across the motorway to escape.

A total of 43 tyres, worth £9,417, were in the back of the vehicle.

Clayton, of Murdoch Road, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to theft, driving while over the limit for cocaine, two counts of driving while disqualified and two of having no insurance.

He has previous convictions for driving offences.

Shila Whitehead, mitigating, said Clayton committed the offences when he was living in a hostel and was struggling with mental health and drug addiction issues.

Ms Whitehead said Clayton had been been co-operating with the probation service to address his problems and had been making good progress.

Clayton was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered to complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and was made the subject of a curfew order for four months.