A DANGEROUS drink-driver who reversed into a police car during a high-speed chase has been sent to custody.

Burnley Crown Court heard how 20-year-old Bilal Choudry drove at 80mph in a 40mph zone, went the wrong way down one-way streets and drove on the wrong side of the road during his bid to evade capture.

He also damaged his car by crashing into a kerb and ripped off its bumper, as well as a police car's, during the 15-minute pursuit through Oswaldtwistle, Haslingden and Crawshawbooth.

One officer described Choudry's driving as the worst he had seen in his career.

When Choudry, of Lincoln Road, Blackburn, was eventually stopped he jumped into the back of his Vauxhall Astra and tried to blame the crime on one of his three passengers.

But officers had earlier identified him and he was subsequently arrested and found to be nearly one and a half times over the drink-drive limit.

Stephen Parker, prosecuting, said Choudry, who was a newly-qualified driver, had bought a bottle of vodka with his three passengers, two male and one female, and they were intending to go to a house party.

On the way to the party Choudry pulled over and drank some of the vodka with his passengers.

At about 2am on November 2, officers attempted to pull over the black Astra in Oswaldtwistle, but fearing he may be over the drink-drive limit Choudry sped off.

Mr Parker said a police pursuit followed where Choudry was driving at 70mph in Haslingden Road, which has a 50mph limit. The defendant then began drifting onto the wrong side of the road. When Choudry got into the 40mph Roundhill Road he was driving at 80mph and he began veering onto the wrong side of the road.

In Hud Hey Road, Haslingden, which has a 30mph limit, Choudry went through a no entry sign and drove at 60mph. The pursuit continued to Blackburn Road, Haslingden, where he drove at 70mph in a 30mph zone. Mr Parker said Choudry did a dangerous turn onto Bury Road, going back towards Haslingden town centre, driving at 65mph in a 30mph zone.

The chase continued onto Haslingden Old Road and Burnley Road, where Choudry took a sharp turn and clipped the kerb. It caused damage to Choudry's front left wheel and he could no longer drive in a straight line. The chase went into Crawshawbooth and Choudry began indicating in a bid to deceive officers.

The Astra came to a stop in Manchester Road, Crawshawbooth, where Choudry put it into reverse and rammed the chasing police car. A second police vehicle arrived and tried to block Choudry in but was unsuccessful and the defendant set off driving again.

The vehicle did a U-turn and a further attempt was made to block Choudry in but he squeezed his car between the pursuing police car and a dry stone wall. It was during that incident that the bumper of his car was ripped off and damage was caused to the bumper of the police vehicle.

Mr Parker said that when the Astra was travelling back towards Crawshawbooth it suddenly stopped. It was at that point Choudry jumped into the back of his car and attempted to deceive officers.

Mr Parker said: "Throughout his career, the arresting officer said he has been involved in 14 pursuits. This was the most dangerous one he has ever been involved in."

Choudry, who has previous convictions for battery and racially-aggravated public order as a youth, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and drink-driving.

Defending, Katie Jones said her client had supported his mother in looking after his younger siblings following the death of his father and asked the judge to impose as short a custodial sentence as possible.

Ms Jones said: "He knows he is extremely lucky that no-one was caused serious injury or worse."

Recorder Mukhtar Hussain QC sent Choudry to a young offenders' institution for 12 months and banned him from driving for 36 months. He must also take an extended re-test.