A FATHER-of-two led police on a chase, travelling the wrong way around a roundabout and over speed bumps at 50mph, with his wife and children in the car.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Naheem Mohammed, 26, was not insured, failed to stop and was "very fortunate" not to have caused an accident.

Police had tried to stop the car because his two children were not wearing seat belts.

The defendant, who had 34 previous convictions, had served a three-year jail term for possessing hard drugs with intent to supply, but was now said to have been "tamed" by his wife.

Sentencing, Judge Alan Taylor told Mohammed: "If there had been an accident, the sentence I am imposing upon you would be much greater."

Mohammed, of Pine Street, Nelson, who had previous convictions for motoring offences and had been banned before, admitted dangerous driving on September 12 and had been committed for sentence by magistrates. He was disqualified for 18 months.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, told the court that about 6.50pm, police saw the defendant driving in Nelson with his wife and two young children in the car without seat belts on.

Mohammed failed to stop even though the police put on their lights and siren. He then went through several streets in Nelson trying to get away.

He went down a street where children were playing, travelled through junctions without attempting to give way and turned into the path of a vehicle.

Police lost sight of his car but found it a short distance away. Nobody was in it.

Miss Statham said Mohammed was found by another officer nearby. He was arrested and in interview acknowledged his driving had been unacceptable.

Hugh Barton, defending, said Mohammed accepted his driving was dangerous but it was perhaps not the worst examples of such offences. Thankfully, nobody was injured, there was no damage to any property and the defendant did not go at more than 50mph.

The barrister went on: "Plainly, these were residential areas, with small streets, with parking on both sides and that is an aggravating feature."

Mr Barton said the defendant had been married two years and his wife had had a stabilising effect on him and had been extremely supportive.