A MAN led police on a high-speed chase and clocked up 70mph in built-up residential areas – with his four-year-old son in the back of the car.

Burnley Crown Court saw shocking CCTV footage of Ashley Idiens jumping two red lights, going the wrong way around roundabouts and dangerously overtaking other vehicles during a four-minute chase through Blackburn and Hyndburn.

The court heard that the 26-year-old former groundworker was driving back from friends with his partner and son in a black Seat Ibiza he had recently purchased at around 10.10pm on July 28.

Police noticed the car in Accrington Road, Blackburn, and decided to pull it over after seeing its registered keeper lived in the south.

Prosecuting, Lisa Worsley said Idiens turned on to Shadsworth Road, Blackburn, but failed to stop as he had no insurance for the vehicle.

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Miss Worsley said Idiens, of Craven Street, Accrington, then went towards Oswaldtwistle and while on Union Road, which has a 30mph speed limit, reached speeds of 70mph. The court heard he continued to drive at speed in Moscow Mill Street and motorists waiting to turn at a junction were forced to a halt.

As he drove towards the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors, the court saw CCTV of Idiens jumping a red light and going the wrong way around a roundabout.

Miss Worsley said the defendant again forced traffic to stop to avoid crashing as he dangerously overtook vehicles in Whalley Road.

He then turned on to Whinney Hill and travelled towards Huncoat where he went down a dead end and was boxed in by police. The court heard he swung open the driver’s door and leapt over the bonnet of a police car but was quickly arrested by an officer.

Miss Worsley said: “The defendant said he had a clean licence but no insurance and he panicked when police attempted to stop him.”

Defending, Anthony Parkinson said his client had been working as a groundworker until a serious back injury forced him to stop.

He said Idiens had started selling cars to raise money to support his son, partner and her three children from a previous relationship.

Mr Parkinson said: “It’s quite clearly an appalling piece of driving. The overtaking at speed, the ignorance of road traffic signals, the speed in built-up residential areas and the presence of his four-year-old child and partner in the vehicle.”

Idiens pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without insurance.

Recorder Andrew McLoughlin sentenced Idiens to eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years, banned him from driving for two years with an extended driving test and made him subject of a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement order.

An eight-month curfew banning him from leaving his father’s or partner’s address between 9pm and 6am was also imposed. He was also told to pay £200 costs.

Mr Recorder McLoughlin said: “You need to be clear, hitting a pedestrian at 70 miles-per-hour would have killed them or caused significant injury. You could have had no complaint if you had been sent to jail.”