Police chase Leeds biker narrowly missed hitting pedestrians on pavement

Police spotted Lee Norton riding a motorbike with a pillion passenger on Throstle Road at Middleton, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Neither Norton or his passenger were wearing helmets and police could not see a registration plate on the bike.

Prosecutor, Howard Shaw said Norton failed to stop and rode off at speed during the incident, which happened ust before 7.30pm on Saturday November 30 2019.

Mr Shaw said Norton, 25, rode on the pavement at more than 30mph during frosty conditions.

The court heard Norton turned into several streets while fleeing police and again mounted a pavement, narrowly missing pedestrians.

Norton stopped the bike wheh he was únable to get through gates leading to a field on Throstle Lane and he and his passenger ran off.

Police gave chase and found Norton hiding in the back garden of a house.

Mr Shaw said when he was arrested Norton told police: "That's OK, I wasn't the rider."

The court heard a Leeds Crown Court judge had banned Norton from driving for 22 months in June 2019 after he was convicted of aggravated vehicle taking.

Norton, of Waincliffe Place, Beeston, admitted dangerous driving.

He has 49 previous convictions for 91 offences.

Shila Whitehead, mitigating, said Norton wsas placed in care aged 12 and was in a children's home until he was 18.

Miss Whitehead said: "He has no potential role models in his life."

Judge Tom Bayliss QC jailed Norton for eight months and banned him from driving for two-years-and-four-months.