A DANGEROUS driver has been jailed following a police chase through Farnworth.

At Bolton Crown Court Wayne Dean was jailed for 10 months after admitting dangerous driving, driving with no licence, driving whilst disqualified and failing to stop for police.

The court was shown a video of the 39-year-old careering around the streets in an orange transit van at 9.50am on September 1.

The pursuit began in St Germain Street and headed along several roads including Albert Road before he was arrested seven minutes later in Cawdor Avenue.

During the chase the court heard that Dean reached speeds of up to 75mph in a 30mph zone, drove on the wrong side of the road and on to a footpath and was seen overtaking four cars and a bus that were waiting at a red light.

The court heard Dean had been carrying out mechanical work on the brakes of the van and had decided to take it out for a “test drive”.

Nigel Booth, prosecuting, said: “All of the roads were 30mph.

“At one stage he drove on the footpath to avoid a collision with other traffic after going through a red light.

“He was arrested very quickly and admitted he had been an idiot and had driven dangerously.”

The court heard that Dean, a 39-year-old grandfather, had numerous previous convictions for driving while disqualified and has never had a licence.

Stuart Neale, defending, said Dean, of Eastham Way, Little Hulton had always had a fascination with vehicles but was illiterate so unable to pass a theory exam.

Mr Neale added: “He apologised profusely to police and he knows that he has shot himself in the foot.

“He knew that his hopes for obtaining a licence had come to an end.

“He is a deep and committed father, step-father, grandfather and step-grandfather and carer of his mother.”

Passing a 10 month prison sentence and imposing a two year driving ban, Recorder Paul Reid QC said: “You knew that you were banned and you have shown that you are prepared to drive when disqualified.

“You went up to 75mph

“These were all residential roads and on any one of these occasions there could have been an accident.

“It is only by luck that nobody was injured.”