A DANGEROUS driver who careered along Bury roads at over 110mph in a stolen Mini was only stopped after police used a stinger to deflate the tyres.

Saaqib Iqbal and two passengers jumped from the vehicle as it slowed, leaving it to roll into a gatepost in a street off Walmersley Road.

At Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court 22-year-old Iqbal was jailed for eight months.

Mark Brookes, prosecuting, told the court that the Mini, which had been stolen in a burglary in December 2019 and was on false plates, was spotted by police at 1.10am on January 7, 2020.

It was being driven fast along Bolton Road towards Bury and, when pursued by officers, reached speeds of more than 110mph in a 30mph limit, ignoring several red traffic lights.

"The vehicle was then stung by a police patrol vehicle ahead and its speed reduced as the tyres degraded," said Mr Brookes, who added that three men jumped from the car and it rolled into a brick gatepost.

One of the passengers has since been sentenced for possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

Iqbal, of Halifax Road, Rochdale, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

Niamh Ingham, defending, said Iqbal lacked maturity and regrets trying to escape from police, but felt under pressure from his passengers as they had drugs and knives.

"He tells me he is ashamed and he feels he let himself and his family down," said Miss Ingham.

Jailing him, Judge Tina Landale told Iqbal it was a "persistent and deliberate course of driving".

She added: "Although there were no pedestrians, there were a number of other vehicles on the road at that time.

"You abandoned the vehicle while it was still moving in a highly dangerous act.

"It is only good fortune that somebody did not die that evening due to your driving."

Iqbal, who also had no licence or insurance, was banned from driving for 22 months, after which he will have to take an extended test.