A FACTORY worker who drove at 70mph in a 30mph zone while being pursued by police has escaped a jail sentence because he didn't hit anybody.

But a judge warned Akhtar Butt, 33, that he would be sent to prison if he gets caught doing it again.

At a sentencing hearing yesterday, Bradford Crown Court heard that Butt took his wife's Ford Mondeo car without consent and then drove it dangerously in the Whetley Hill area of Bradford after he was spotted by a police patrol.

The bad driving had taken place at 11pm last December but Butt hadn't turned the car's lights on.

Butt, who came to the UK from Pakistan five years ago and was assisted in court by an interpreter, wasn't insured to drive and had never taken a driving test. He admitted the offences.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, said at one point Butt had driven the Mondeo at around 70mph in a 30mph zone.

Butt had driven through junctions in dangerous way and was later arrested after he stopped near a friend's house.

The court heard that Butt, of Shay Drive, Heaton, Bradford, had never been in trouble before, was married with two young children and had a job in a bed factory.

Judge Thomas said that he suspected that Butt treated the Mondeo as a "family car" which he regularly drove around in.

"Clearly you should not have done that. You were not allowed to as you didn't have a driving licence and you had no insurance."

He added: "When police saw you, you knew you were in trouble and took off. Fortunately, although driving dangerously, you didn't hit anybody or anything. In that sense it isn't the sort of dangerous driving to take you into prison.

"Let it be said, most cases of dangerous driving - putting people's lives at risk on the roads - will take offenders to prison. In your case you will do unpaid work."

The judge sentenced Butt to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work for the offences of taking without consent and dangerous driving.

There were no separate penalties for driving without insurance and having no licence.

Butt was also banned from driving for a year and ordered to take an extended driving test before he can take to the roads.

He was also ordered to pay £120 costs.

Butt was also warned that he would be before the courts again if he failed to do the unpaid work.

The judge said: "Do understand that you have to do this unpaid work. If you don't do it...you will be in breach of the order and you and I will have to meet again. If you come back in breach of the order I will send you to prison - so get it done."