Van driver high on cannabis led police on chase through residential streets

Dean Matthew Ambler, 33, was also found to have no licence or insurance when he was finally arrested.

Prosecuting, Joseph Bell said that on May 15 officers saw the Ford Transit van and decided to pulled it over on Haw Hill View in Normanton.

The van stopped for a moment, before taking off again at speed, pursued by the officer.

Ambler forced other road users to swerve as he reached speeds up to 50mph in the van on 30mph built-up streets, crossing over into the opposite lane and even colliding with the front of another vehicle waiting at a junction, before taking off again.

The chase took him along Ashgap Lane, Ashfield Street, Castleford Road, Eastfield Grove, Oxford Street, Cemetery Road, Fairway Approach, Snydale Road, Favell Avenue and Dalefield Road before he finally reached a dead end and fled the scene on foot.

His two passengers remained in the vehicle and he hid in a nearby property before being tracked down.

During police interview he admitted he panicked.

Ambler, who had 15 previous convictions, admitted drug-driving, dangerous driving, driving without a licence and without insurance.

Mitigating, Matthew Harding, said that Ambler, of Dodsworth Crescent, Woodhouse, runs a utilities company laying cables for the internet.

His driver had not turned up that day so took the decision to drive.

He said that he was a cannabis user, smoking it daily and had done for years, claiming it helped calmed him because he has ADHD.

Mr Harding added: "He is extremely frustrated with himself by placing himself and his family in a very precarious position."

He said he had built up his company for three years, feared he could lose it if he was jailed, and had a young family to support.

Judge Christopher Batty said: "What you did was completely unacceptable, it's highly dangerous.

"Fortunately, no-one was injured.

"You have done remarkably well to turn your business into what it is and have done so legitimately.

"I could lock you up, but there is strong personal mitigation."

He handed Ambler 10 months' jail, suspended for 18 months, gave him 200 hours of unpaid work and banned him from driving for two years.