Nightclub car maniac jailed indefinitely

JAILED indefinitely . . . Lee Bradley

A MAN who ploughed through a crowd outside a nightclub in a stolen car has been jailed indefinitely.

Following an argument with door staff, Lee Bradley (26) sped along the pavement knocking revellers down like skittles as they fled in terror.

At least 21 people were injured with 14 taken to hospital following the horrific incident last October in Packer Street, Rochdale.

Police said it was a miracle no one was killed.

Bradley, of no fixed address, went into hiding but handed himself in to police last November and admitted a string of offences at Bolton Crown Court.

Judge William Morris said Bradley, already a convicted killer with a conviction for manslaughter when he was 16, posed a danger to the public and must remain behind bars until it is considered safe to release him. He must serve a minimum of six years.

Judge Morris told Bradley: “You were deliberately using this motor vehicle as a weapon, a fearsome weapon.

“So many were injured by what you did, it is a truly exceptional feature of this case.

“As for their injuries, any one of them could have been so much worse, one or more of them could so easily have been killed.”

Shocking CCTV was shown to the court. Bradley who already had two previous convictions for drink-driving was banned from driving for life.

High on a cocktail of drink and cocaine, he was seen to be laughing as he drove at the pedestrians.

He had been thrown out of the Dali Bar for being “extremely drunk” and tried to push his way back in, threatening the doormen before bouncer Ben Pickup pushed him to the ground.

A minute later he mounted the pavement outside the bar and drove straight at Mr Pickup,- missing him by inches but accelerating on into shock bystanders.

Unemployed Bradley pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of GBH, 10 assaults, aggravated taking of a motor vehicle without consent, and dangerous driving. A further eight counts assault were taken into consideration.

Anthony Morris, mitigating, said his client had a problem with drink and cocaine, adding: “He’s not bad by nature, he’s bad when he’s had a combination of things.”