A BANNED driver careered along St Peter’s Way at 131mph during a 12 mile police chase.

Yamin Daynamawala had borrowed a high powered Audi A3 from a friend, who had hired it, and was spotted in Manchester by police.

But as officers tried to box him in at the junction of Bury New Road and Moor Lane 22-year-old Daynamawala sped off towards Bury.

Bolton Crown Court heard how, during an eight minute pursuit through suburban streets and along the M60, Daynamawala wove in an out of traffic, at one stage reaching 118mph on Bury New Road, which has a 30mph limit.

“I am astonished that neither you nor anybody else sustained serious injuries,” Judge Timothy Stead told him.

Alison Mather, prosecuting, told the court how Daynamawala was at the wheel of the Audi, with his girlfriend in the passenger seat, when police tried to stop the car at 1.10am on February 9.

Miss Mather said: “It was a lengthy pursuit. He was travelling through junctions with no regard to any other traffic on the road.

“Also present was his girlfriend at the time.”

The pursuit only ended when part-time takeaway worker Daynamawala reached a dead end in Thorns Road, Astley Bridge.

He abandoned the car and fled through gardens and towards a brook before he was caught.

Daynamawala, of Louisa Street, Halliwell, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without a licence or insurance.

The court heard that, at the time, he was still banned from holding a licence after being convicted of drug driving and driving without insurance last year.

Keith Jones, defending, told Judge Timothy Stead: “He is remorseful and he offers his apologies for the inconvenience he has caused by his naivety and stupidity.”

He added that Daynamawala had panicked when police tried to stop him because he knew he was still banned.

“He fully accepts that it was a very stupid decision to try and evade the police,” said Mr Jones, who added that Daynamawala is currently setting up his own car wash business.

Judge Stead sentenced Daynamawala to 12 months in prison and banned him from driving for three years and six months, after which he will have to take an extended retest.

He told him: “You drove at, frankly, tremendous speeds.

“If anyone had been injured by your driving then, undoubtedly, you would have faced a more serious charge and the sentence would have been even greater.

“You had a passenger on board at all times — an innocent person. She must have been terrified by the manner of your driving.”

He added: “You made your way up Blackburn Road at great speed, ducking and weaving into minor roads until eventually you came to a cul-de-sac. As simple dangerous driving goes this is a bad case.

“I am of the view that with such a lengthy course of driving at those enormous speeds, with a passenger on board whilst disqualified from holding a licence, an immediate sentence of imprisonment is the only sentence which can be justified.”