A FATHER-of-one who fled from police in Trafford at speeds reaching 100mph has been spared jail.

Damien Hinds, 29, was seen driving on the wrong side of the road and jumping red lights while being pursued by officers from Wharf Side road to Ashburton Road West, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

But Judge Angela Nield accepted that the driving, in a BMW 120D, represented a “moment of madness” for Hinds, who had been out of trouble for eight years.

The judge was told he had been struggling to cope after the recent losses of his mother and brother.

Judge Nield said she needed “send home the message” that despite the roads being much quieter under lockdown, such driving remained unacceptable.

Hinds, of Lewis Street, Eccles, had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and speeding.

He was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, with 15 rehabilitation activity days to undertake with the probation service.

Hinds was also banned from driving for 18 months and must embark on a thinking skills programme with probation.

Prosecutors say the police vehicle never got close enough to Hinds’ vehicle to pull it over at the time.

Dashcam footage, captured during the pursuit, at around 7pm on May 30, only shows the defendant’s BMW in the far distance.

The court heard Hinds had been convicted of dangerous driving as a juvenile and also had an offence of aggravated vehicle taking on his criminal record.

Stuart Duke, for Hinds, said that fortunately the roads were very quiet at the time of the offence. There were no pedestrians around and very few other road users.

Hinds had not been before the courts for eight years and had a settled relationship and an eight-year-old daughter to look after, he added.