A driver led police on a chase through streets in Huddersfield to protect a passenger friend who had been smoking cannabis, a court heard.

And a judge told Mohammed Ahmed his driving was “appalling”.

Police officers saw Ahmed driving in the area of New Hey Road on the evening of September 26 and signalled him to stop with lights and siren.

He did pull over but when one of the officers got out and approached the car he used that opportunity to evade speaking to the officer and set off, Carmel Pearson prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court.

Ahmed accelerated towards Lindley without giving way at junctions, driving in streets with a 30mph limit at between 40-50mph. At one crossroads he overtook vehicles by travelling on the wrong side of the road forcing oncoming vehicles to brake

After Birchencliffe Hill Road and Lidget Street he was still forcing other vehicles to take evasive action and in a 40mph limit was doing 60-70mph.

Officers were still following him into Birkby when the car suddenly indicated left and then pulled over in Wheathouse Road and Ahmed was arrested. There was a smell of cannabis in the car but no drugs were found on him or his passenger.

The court heard Ahmed told a probation officer that his friend had been smoking cannabis and when the police officer approached his passenger panicked and told him to drive off

Out of misguided loyalty he did but during the pursuit realised the seriousness of what he was doing and pulled over. He had expressed remorse for his actions.

Ahmed, 32 of Fitzwilliam Street, Huddersfield admitted dangerous driving and was given a 12 month community order with 120 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £180 costs. He was also banned from driving for 12 months and then to take an extended driving test.

Judge Sally Cahill QC told him: “It was an appalling piece of driving. I accept it might have been out of misguided loyalty but you put at risk a large number of members of the pubic and that is the kind of conduct that cannot be permitted.”

She said she had considered imposing a jail term but as he had stopped the driving himself, had a licence and insurance which others in his position often did not, she could pull back from that sentence.