Motorist on the run after police chase through Sheffield

The crook failed to stop for officers on City Road yesterday afternoon and a police pursuit was mounted.

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But South Yorkshire Police said that when the Skoda Fabia driver '˜began taking unnecessary risks' to evade capture '˜at a time when local schools were finishing for the day,' officers withdrew from the pursuit on safety grounds.

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A member of the public later alerted officers to a '˜trail of destruction' caused by the car, which was on stolen number plates, and the Skoda was tracked down again.

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Officers found a wheel and a road sign in the middle of a road and the Skoda being driven through an alleyway '˜with sparks flying'.

The driver abandoned the car and ran off but despite being chased by officers and a '˜public spirited' member of the public he managed to escape.

In a Facebook post, South Yorkshire Police's operational support unit said: 'We will discontinue pursuits where the risk to public safety becomes too great or disproportionate.'