AN uninsured motorist who sped away from police through football traffic just after full time at the County Ground has been spared jail.

Mohamed Sharif raced along the narrow residential streets in the Broad Green area as Town fans made their way home from the win over Tranmere.

The 21-year-old crashed with a Mercedes as he shot across Manchester Road without braking at the junction.

But after hearing he had just started university in London and hopes to become a tax accountant a judge imposed a community order.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court police wanted to stop the car because of concerns over his number plate at 5.20pm on Saturday August 18.

Rather than pull over the Ford Focus sped off, moving from Manchester Road to Graham Street before turning on to Elmina Road.

He then went over Manchester Road and collided with a Mercedes but he kept on going down the narrow residential streets and only came to an end when he was blocked by a car coming the other way.

When he was questioned the defendant said that he had panicked as his car smelled of cannabis and he worried he would be in trouble.

He added that he was sorry for what he had done and wished to apologise to the driver of the Mercedes.

Sharif, of Semley Walk, Penhill, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and not having any insurance.

In a stand down report probation officer Jackie Reynolds said he had told her he knew he was uninsured.

She said he told her had started at university in London on two days a week studying accounts and finance.

Richard Williams, defending, said his client, who passed his driving test in February, was commuting to Anglia Ruskin University while living at home.

He said he had never been in trouble before and the driving was only about half a mile and lasted just over a minute.

Passing sentence Judge Jason Taylor QC said "It involved you failing to give way at a junction. At times in excess of 50mph.

"It involved areas that were built up, narrow and residential. It also included a collision with a vehicle, albeit at low speed.

"There were a lot of pedestrians in the area not least because there was a football match which had just finished.

"This was a deliberate course of very bad driving where you flagrantly disregarded the rules of the rod and the safety of other people, people who could have stepped out between parked cars."

He imposed a two year community order with 300 hours of unpaid work, four month night time curfew and £500 costs. He was also banned from the road for 18 months and until he passes and extended test.