A TEENAGER who took his sister's car and led police in a 34-minute chase around the streets of Bolton has been imprisoned for 10 months.

Wasim Iqbal drove at up to 90mph in Halliwell Road, which has a 30mph speed limit and sped down narrow residential streets and alleyways around Bolton town centre and Heaton.

Colin Buckle, prosecuting, said that police were so concerned about the state of 19-year-old Iqbal's driving that a police car following him ended its pursuit and the force helicopter was used to track him until he stopped the car on Chorley New Road.

Mr Buckle played Judge Timothy Stead video footage taken from the police car and helicopter which showed how Iqbal was first spotted driving at speed in a VW Golf towards Bolton on Blackburn Road at 1.45am on June 28.

But instead of stopping Iqbal, who was at the wheel of his sister's car, turned off his headlights and sped off.

"Turning off the lights created a significant danger," said Mr Buckle, who added that Iqbal hurtled along cobbles streets, ignored red lights, drove on the wrong side of the road and through narrow gaps between parked cars.

Iqbal had a provisional licence but has never passed a driving test and had no insurance.

The police helicopter took over tracking the car after 20 minutes when it was deemed too dangerous to continue pursuing it.

Iqbal finally stopped the car on Chorley New Road and got into a nearby van, but was caught a short time later by a police dog tracking his scent.

Iqbal, of Chorley New Road, Bolton, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop and driving without licence or insurance.

Mohammed Nawaz, defending, admitted: "The driving was nothing short of appalling in this case."

But he stressed that Iqbal, who works for a plumbers' merchants, was driving late at night when few other vehicles were on the roads and there was no accident or injury.

"He comes from a decent, hard working, industrious family. They are horrified at his behaviour — it matters to them that he appears to be going off the rails," said Mr Nawaz.

Describing Iqbal's driving as "outrageous" Judge Stead sentenced Iqbal to 10 months in a young offenders' institution. He was also banned from driving for three years and five months and must pay a £140 victim surcharge.