A 22-YEAR-OLD NHS worker who led police on a prolonged, dangerous pursuit and failed to stop even after they burst her tyres has narrowly avoided going to jail.

Preston Crown Court heard that Kyanath Mahmood, of Walter Street, Blackburn, had been spotted driving her BMW 5 Series erratically, narrowly missing a police car on Blackburn Road, Oswaldtwistle, in the early hours of June 25.

The officer in the car turned on his blue lights but Mahmood failed to pull over and sped off.

Judge Philip Parry, sentencing, said: “For the next seven minutes, what can only be described as a high speed pursuit around residential streets of Oswaldtwistle took place where you reached speeds of more than 70mph in 30mph zones.

“You tried to fool the police by driving twice round a roundabout, then pulled over and fooled the officer into thinking you were going to get out of the car before driving off.

“Allowing him to get out of his car was a highly dangerous thing to do as officers have been injured in the past.”

The court heard how the officer called for back-up and several police vehicles joined the pursuit, deploying two stingers and puncturing her tyres.

The pursuit only came to a stop after Mahmood could no longer continue driving.

Judge Parry said: “Your pre-sentence report says you are a highly intelligent, honest and genuine young woman, but from what I’ve just read out, that doesn’t seem to be an accurate description of you.”

Mahmood’s case had been deferred after her defence barrister, Duncan Nightingale, requested a letter from her employers, guaranteeing her job would still be open should she receive a suspended sentence.

However, Mahmood was sacked from her position but managed to obtain work in a friend’s beauty salon which she hoped would help her in receiving a non-custodial sentence.

Judge Parry said: “Your driving was appalling, it was prolonged and highly dangerous.

“You were drunk and you were already on bail for being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle and you have a previous conviction for drink driving.

“If I find out this job offer is a fake one you will be back before me and I will reconsider this sentence.”

Mahmood, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and dangerous driving.

She was handed a 15-month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 10 days of rehabilitation and 180 hours of unpaid work.

She was also banned from driving for three years and would be required to take an extended test to get her licence back.