Trainee boxing coach who sped wrong way on dual carriageway during police chase is jailed at Leeds Crown Court

Police in an unmarked car tried to stop the Audi that Bob Sugden was driving along Selby Road in east Leeds after suspecting it had false number plates, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Officers used a stinger device, which punctured one of the car's rear tyres.

Sugden, 30, sped off into oncoming traffic on the wrong side of the road during the incident just before 10am on March 3.

David Ward, prosecuting, said Sugden exceeded the 30mph speed limit through Halton village and went through a red light when he overtook a vehicle on a pedestrian crossing.

Mr Ward said Sugden drove on the wrong side of a dual carriageway at more than 70mph as he headed towards the A64 York Road.

The court heard drivers had to swerve to avoid colliding head on with the Audi.

Sugden crashed into railings and tried to run away from the scene, but was caught by police and arrested.

The court heard the car chase went on for just under two miles and lasted two minutes.

Mr Ward said car keys, a car and number of watches were among items stolen during a burglary at a house in Wortley overnight on July 23 2019.

CCTV captured three men arriving in the area near the house in a Peugeot 206.

Mr Ward said just after 4am on July 24 Sugden and two other men were seen arriving at Asda in Killingbeck in the Peugeot.

One of the other men used a bank card stolen in the burglary to buy items at the Asda store.

Police arrested Ward at an address in Compton Road, Harehills, on August 23 last year after finding a Sekonda watch stolen in the Wortley burglary during a search of the house.

Sugden, of no fixed abode, admitted handling stolen goods, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

He has six previous convictions for 30 offences including burglary, aggravated vehicle taking and theft.

Caroline Abraham, mitigating, said Sugden has a five-year-old daughter and wants to turn his life around.

Miss Abraham said: "He hopes to complete a qualification as a boxing coach. He has started that and hopes to continue."

Judge Penelope Belcher jailed Sugden for 19 months and banned him from driving for 15 months.