A HIGH-SPEED driver careered down a narrow street where children were playing just weeks after he was given a suspended jail sentence for motoring offences.

Bolton Crown Court heard how, on February 9, 19-year-old Mesaadi Saaed was convicted of dangerous driving and having no licence or insurance.

He was sentenced to 12 months in jail, suspended for two years and banned from driving for three years.

But on Sunday, April 25 police spotted him behind the wheel of a BMW, driving fast in Blenheim Road, Breightmet.

Patrick Williamson, prosecuting, told how officers followed the car and saw as it took a corner too quickly into St Osmund's Drive.

"The officers describe the corner as being blind and, if there had been a pedestrian or car approaching the mouth of the junction, the officers' view was the BMW could not have seen them in time to avoid a collision," said Mr Williamson.

He added that the car then turned into St Osmund's Grove, a narrow residential street.

In a statement, resident Frank Kay described how he heard a car which sounded like it was racing and "travelling at a ridiculous speed".

Mr Williamson added: "Mr Kay saw that there were children playing football in the street. The BMW had accelerated, in his view, to in the region of 40mph and did not appear to be giving any consideration to anyone in the vicinity.

"It travelled the length of the road before braking harshly. He described the rear wheels as being seen to lock and it appears to have only just avoided a collision with some children."

Mr Williamson added that the car did not mount the pavement, where a small child was stood.

"But clearly it would have been a frightening experience for a child," he said.

Saaed ran off but was caught a few streets away, initially claiming he had not been driving the car, which belonged to an acquaintance.

Saaed, of Slater Street, Bolton, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst banned and having no insurance.

Sentencing was adjourned to June 22 after the court heard that five mobile phones and powder were found in the vehicle and forensic tests have still to be carried out.