AN accountancy student who took his brother’s car and crashed it while being chased by the police has walked free from court.

Burnley Crown Court was shown dash cam footage of Samran Zaman’s dangerous driving, which saw him drive at speed through a supermarket carpark and at more than 50mph along a 30mph road.

The chase did eventually end when 20-year-old Zaman lost control of the red Volkswagen Golf and it span across the carriageway and into a metal crash barrier.

Prosecuting, Peter Barr said the incident started in Princess Way, Burnley, at around 7pm on August 2 when a police officer saw the Golf being driven erratically.

Mr Barr said: “The officer felt the car was being driven at speed. The officer decided to follow the Golf because it was overtaking and undertaking other vehicles on Princess Way. The speed limit in that area is 30mph. The speed recorded by the police is in excess of 50mph.

“The officer decided to request the defendant to stop by turning on his siren and blue flashing light. The defendant decided not to stop and decided instead to accelerate through the Asda supermarket carpark, despite there being other cars, shoppers and people pushing trolleys.”

The court heard Zaman went back onto Princess Way but such was the dangerousness of his driving that he forced two other drivers to take evasive action to avoid a crash.

He continued to drive at 50mph and undertook more vehicles in a failed attempt to get away from the pursuing police officer.

Mr Barr said: “As he attempted to overtake another vehicle he lost control, span round and hit the metal crash barrier. The defendant then got out of the vehicle and is detained by the police. As he got out of the car the first thing he stated was ‘It’s my brother’s car. He’s going to kill me’.”

During his interview Zaman, of Ormerod Road, Burnley, told officers that the reason he drove away from them is because he knew he had no insurance.

Zaman pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving and driving without insurance.

Defending, Richard Prew said his client, who is studying accountancy at college, panicked when the police attempted to stop him and had since shown genuine remorse for his actions. He is also attempting to get a part-time job to pay his brother back for the damage caused to his vehicle.

Mr Prew said: “He is a young man who has never been in trouble before.

Judge Ian Leeming QC sentenced Zaman to six months in a young offender’s institution, suspended it for 12 months, and ordered him to complete 150 hours unpaid work within the next year.

He was also banned from driving for 12 months and told he must take an extended driving test before getting his licence back.