A SERIAL offender has been jailed after leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car.

Bradford Crown Court was told Marley Kent, 23, of Hill Top Cottages, Daisy Hill, narrowly missed a pedestrian, reversed into a police car and reached speeds of 75mph during the pursuit on Tuesday, June 20.

Around two days earlier, Kent had stolen £3 and the keys for the Peugeot driven in the chase from a Fiat car parked in The Grove, Greengates.

Prosecutor Robert Galley yesterday said officers were on duty in Sandholme Drive, Thorpe Edge, when they spotted the vehicle, which had been reported stolen, and approached Kent.

After rolling the car forward, he reversed at high speed before driving down Farm Hill Road, where an oncoming motorcyclist was nearly hit. The chase continued down Rowantree Drive and then on to Bradford Road.

On entering Idle village, Kent, who was in breach of licence from a previous offence, sped through a zebra crossing and past a school at around 50mph.

He then went on to Thorpe Garth, driving on the wrong side of bollards, before entering Albion Road. Kent reversed into a police car twice and was recorded driving at speeds reaching 60mph in a 30mph zone.

The chase continued on to New Line, towards Apperley Bridge, where he narrowly missed a collision with a heavy goods vehicle, before running a red light and reaching around 75mph.

He continued towards Guiseley and a pedestrian had to jump out of the way when the car mounted a pavement. Kent then reversed and collided with a BMW and Volvo, before being detained on the A65 Leeds Road.

Defence barrister Jayne Beckett said Kent had wanted to change after being released from his last sentence. He moved to Leeds, but then came back to Bradford as he felt “isolated” and began to associate with those he had previously offended with. Mrs Beckett said Kent knew he “needs to grow up”.

Jailing him, Judge Jonathan Rose told Kent he was a “determined criminal” and said he was a man with “no regard for authority, law and order or other people”. Kent, who pleaded guilty to all charges, was handed a 14-month prison sentence for aggravated vehicle-taking, a ten-month consecutive sentence for being unlawfully at large, as well as a six-month sentence for theft and a four-month sentence for driving while disqualified, to run concurrently. There was no separate penalty for driving without insurance.

He was also disqualified for driving for three years, must take an extended test before being permitted to drive again and must pay a victim surcharge.

MORE TOP STORIES