Takeaway getaway! Pizza man's 100mph police chase

West Yorkshire Police had to deploy the force helicopter during the dangerous pursuit, which took place on roads through Castleford, Methley Rothwell and Garforth.

Leeds Crown Court heard Bradley Maddison sped off in the Toyota Yaris after police indicated for him to stop after they spotted him carrying out a dangerous manoeuvre on the A639 Castleford Road.

Maddison, who does not have a driving licence, and another man were in the vehicle and were delivering pizzas for a local takeaway firm in the early hours of April 17 this year.

Syam Soni, prosecuting, said Maddison reached 90mph as he headed towards Rothwell and drove on the wrong side of the carriageway.

He reached 100mph along Newmarket Lane and went through a red light before driving through a residential area on Lee Moor Lane at double the speed limit.

Maddison then headed towards Garforth and again reached speeds of 100mph. He also switched off the headlights in a bid to avoid being detected.

Maddison and the other man were eventually arrested when the car was driven into a cul de sac along Oak Road, Garforth.

Three police vehicles and a helicopter had to be used in the pursuit.

Maddison, of Front Street, Castleford, told officers that he had driven off in panic as because he did not have a driving licence.

The incident took place a day before he was due to sit his driving theory test.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop, having no insurance and having no driving licence.

Vincent Blake-Barnard, mitigating, said Maddison was ashamed of what he had done. He said: “He lays awake at night thinking about what the implications could have been.”

The barrister told the court that Maddison had the opportunity of working for a taxi firm if he was not sent to prison.

Jailing Maddison, judge Simon Kealey, said: “This was a case of extremely bad and dangerous driving. It was a prolonged piece of driving through a red lights, on the wrong side of the carriageway and other vehicles were forced to take evasive action.”