A man caught dangerous driving twice has dodged jail after "turning his life around".
Edmund Mutiti, 25, failed to stop for police after speeding at 50mph in 30mph zones in Sale.
He was spotted by officers driving a Seat Toledo with fake registration plates on April 4, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Mutiti refused to pull over and sped through the area, near Salford University, "heavy with pedestrians".
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Mutiti, of Monsall, came to an abrupt stop before running off, but was quickly detained.
He was released under investigation until December 17, 2020 when officers in an unmarked car at around 8.45pm spotted a Citroen C3, also on stolen number plates, being driven dangerously on the Mancunian Way.
“The officers stopped at the junction with the A57 as they knew the vehicle was going to pass them - which it did - and the officers pursued the vehicle,” prosecutor John Kennerley said.
“They unsuccessfully attempted to deploy a stinger.
“The defendant was reaching speeds of 60mph in 30mph zones, moving between moving vehicles and failing to stop.
“He went through red traffic lights and attempted to turn right at 50mph but collided with pedestrian metal railings on Great Ancoats Street.”
Officers suspected Mutiti was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and arrested him for dangerous driving.
However, a specimen of breath was not analysed and he was not interviewed as officers were already at the scene.
The court heard that Mutiti had been dealt with in April this year for a further offence of dangerous driving which was committed after these two offences, in March this year.
For that he was disqualified from driving for 18 months, ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work and a number of rehabilitation activity requirement days.
Mitigating, Claire Brocklebank said that before the coronavirus lockdown, her client was working as a kiosk team leader at Old Trafford, but when the pandemic hit he was out of work and unable to claim furlough due to his contract.
“He was for some time, without a job and without direction in his life,” she said.
“These offences were committed in April and December, during the pandemic.
“He has made a conscious effort to change his life.
"He has obtained qualifications and completed a railway engineering course - he has an ambition to become a railway engineer.
“He has now obtained work, and when there is not a lot of shift work he has previously got himself a couple of shifts for a demolition company.
“He has done everything he could have done to show he really has turned his life around.”
Sentencing him, Recorder Graham Wells said: “These were dangerous driving in a police pursuit and these offences are serious.
“The police had to deploy something - a stinger- to stop you.
“On the other hand, your defence counsel have said an awful lot and you have an awful lot in your favour.
“You have changed your life around.
“You took a chance when it was offered to you and that is what enables me to suspend this sentence.”
Mutiti was handed eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years, 180 hours unpaid work, and banned from driving for 18 months after admitting offences of dangerous driving, driving with no insurance and no licence.
He must also complete an extended re-test.
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