A MAN was given a suspended sentence despite carrying out 'some of the most serious dangerous driving' a judge has seen.

Gary Foulkes was pursued by police when he was driving a stolen on car on Lea Gate, Harwood, at around 12.30am on September 19 last year.

He was chased down streets including Stitch-Mi-Lane, Newby Lane and Winchester Way, reaching speeds in excess of 60mph.

At one point he crashed into a wall and a car but rammed the other vehicle out of the way.

Foulkes, aged 36 and of no fixed abode was eventually arrested when he came to a dead end off Thicketford Road.

He was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court yesterday for dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, driving whilst disqualified and handling stolen goods.

Judge Gioserano said: "The reality of this is the dangerous driving is some of the most serious I have seen.

"It is only by sheer good fortune that no-one was seriously injured or hurt."

The court heard how the Ford Fiesta was taken from a house in Bradshaw Meadows, Bradshaw, on September 16 and another car was taken from a house in Montrose Drive, Bromley Cross the next day.

The key to the car from the second burglary was found in the car.

Foulkes was charged with burglary and stealing the cars but not guilty verdicts were recorded in relation to these offences.

The court heard how Foulkes had 113 separate previous offences recorded against him and Judge Gioserano did not think a short prison sentence would benefit him.

Foulkes was sentenced to 15 months in prison for dangerous driving and also for aggravated vehicle taking and one month in prison for handling stolen goods and driving whilst disqualified, all suspended for two years and to be served concurrently.

He was disqualified from driving for three years.