A MAN led police on a high speed car chase through the streets of Bolton before driving along a footpath and down alleyways, a court heard.

Convicted burglar Lewis Georgiou was told by a judge he should “count himself lucky” to not go to jail with the current coronavirus pandemic conditions and their impact on prisons playing a part in him receiving a suspended sentence.

Appearing via video link at Bolton Crown Court, Robert Smith, prosecuting, said Georgiou, 25, pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving, driving without a licence and driving without insurance on March 12 at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.

Mr Smith said that at around 1.50am on September 30, 2019, a police dog handler was on patrol in his vehicle when he saw a black Volkswagen Golf travelling along Lever Street with a front seat passenger.

The officer became suspicious and checks revealed the car was registered some distance from Bolton and he indicated for the vehicle to pull over.

The defendant immediately increased his speed and a pursuit started with Georgiou reaching speeds of 60mph in a 30mph zone.

The Golf was driven through a red light before driving at 50mph along Buckley Lane.

On Masefield Drive, Georgiou drove through a junction without stopping or slowing and at one stage drove off road on a footpath.

An attempt was made to stop the car with a stinger but this was unsuccessful and the car was driven on to Albert Road before continuing through back alleys and on to Long Causeway where it was driven on the wrong side of the road and went through another red light.

The chase, which lasted 14 minutes, didn’t end until Georgiou collided with another car on St Germain Street and the officer and his dog were able to arrest him.

Mr Smith added that Georgiou, of Ripon Avenue, Whitefield, had six previous convictions for 10 offences, and received a 15 month prison sentence in 2016 for burglary.

Joe Rawlings, defending, said Georgiou, a plasterer, had made efforts “to turn his life around and make a better fist of things” since his release.

“He has made the wrong decision in driving a vehicle to assist a friend,” added Mr Rawlings.

Handing Georgiou a six month sentence suspended for two years, Judge Timothy Stead also ordered him to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and banned him from driving for 18 months.