A DANGEROUS driver turned off his headlights and sped through red traffic lights at 100mph in a bid to escape police.

At Bolton Crown Court Judge Timothy Stead said it was "astonishing" that no one was killed or injured during Wasim Iqbal's 20 minutes of appalling driving.

The police helicopter was used and even a stinger, designed to deflate a vehicle's tyres, failed to stop 21-year-old Iqbal.

He was eventually boxed in by police vehicles on Chorley Old Road and his sister's BMW 1, which he had taken, was brought to a halt.

The court heard that, at the time, Iqbal was already banned from holding a licence after being convicted, in similar circumstances, of dangerous driving in 2016.

"He is simply someone who is obsessed with cars," said Hugh McKee, defending.

David Bentley, prosecuting, told the court how, at 11pm on November 17, police spotted the BMW travelling at speed on Wigan Road, Bolton, and decided to follow him.

After leading the police pursuers along Addington Road, Sutton Road and back onto Wigan Road, Iqbal turned off his headlights and sped towards Hunger Hill at 90mph, along Snydale Way and onto Manchester Road, Westhoughton, when his speed headed up to 100mph.

"At traffic lights with Bolton Road which were on red, he went trough the traffic lights without braking or observing other traffic," said Mr Bentley. He sped through the next set of traffic lights, which were also on red, even faster, at 100mph and again at the junction with Dicconson Lane before turning onto De Havilland Way.

The pursuit continued, with the helicopter joining in and a stinger was deployed as he headed towards Moss Bank Way.

"It did not seem to have the effect anticipated," said Mr Bentley.

Even when the chase ended, as Iqbal was boxed in on Chorley Old Road, he refused to unlock his door. Police had to smash the window and pull out Iqbal, who had made himself rigid, and was tightly gripping an officer's leg.

After his arrest police found a small snap bag of MDNA on him and Iqbal admitted his driving had been "terrible". He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while banned, failing to stop for police, having no insurance and possessing Class A drugs.

Mr McKee told the court that Iqbal claimed a friend had suffered death in the family and he had used his sister's car to give them a lift.

"When he realised the police were behind him, he makes no bones about it, he tried to get away," he added.

Sentencing Iqbal to 14 months in prison, Judge Stead said: "It [the driving] was as bad as you can imagine without damage to property or injuries to persons.

"How you avoided very serious injury or death, either to yourself or someone else, I don't know." Iqbal was also banned from driving for five and half years and, if he wants to reapply for a driving licence, will have to take an extended test.

Judge Stead also praised the efforts of the pursuing police officers. "They proceeded with remarkable skill and persistence," he said.