A 22-YEAR-OLD man who led police on an early-morning high-speed chase through built-up areas of Nelson has been jailed.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Irslaan Nowkhaiz jumped red lights, went down a narrow one-way street at speed and even crashed into a pedestrian crossing in his failed bid to avoid capture.

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Emma Keogh, prosecuting, told the court police saw Nowkhaiz speeding in his black Renault Clio along Scotland Road at around 1.15am on August 5.

Ms Keogh said Nowkhaiz, of Macleod Street, Nelson, was seen overtaking two vehicles along Scotland Road in a move which was described as dangerous by police.

Ms Keogh said: “The officer put on the blue lights but the defendant ignored them.

“He hit a pedestrian island in Pendle Road.

“He then went the wrong way down a one-way street continuing to drive at speed. There were parked vehicles on either side of the road and only a small distance to get a vehicle through. He hit a pedestrian island.

“He went through three red lights, failing to slow down. He then conducted more overtaking manoeuvres in built-up areas and eventually mounted a kerb between a house and a parked car.

“The vehicle came to a stop and the defendant was arrested.”

Ms Keogh said the majority of the areas in which the pursuit took place were built-up with a speed limit of 20 miles per hour.

The court heard that during police interview Nowkhaiz admitted he didn’t have a valid driving licence and that is why he refused to stop.

Rachel Woods, defending, said her client had panicked.

Ms Woods said: “He had purchased the car with a friend with the intention of selling it on for profit. He decided to take the vehicle to go to the shop and when he saw the police car he panicked. This offence was caused by blind panic.

“He has expressed remorse for the event and has shown insight into the dangers he caused on that night.”

Nowkhaiz, who has recently got engaged, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop when required to do so by a constable in uniform, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

The court heard at the time the offence he was on licence for drugs offences he had been convicted for.

Nowkhaiz, who is unemployed, was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, disqualified from driving for 12 months and told to do an extended driving test.

Judge Beverley Lunt said: “There are so many aggravating features in this case. I have no option but to pass a sentence of immediate custody.”