A disqualified driver who led police on an 'extremely dangerous' chase through the streets of Rochdale has been jailed. Bilal Ishaq reached speeds more than three times the limit as he tried to outrun police motorcyclists in a black Mercedes.
Pursuit through residential streets
Police footage shows officers take up the pursuit on Foxholes Road after they suspected the 35-year-old of drug dealing. In the clip an officer can be heard saying 'It's a black Mercedes, believe he's drug dealing'.
Ishaq can then be seen racing through residential streets at speeds of over 60mph. At one point he goes through a mini-roundabout on the wrong side of the road, narrowly avoiding a car pulling out from a side street.
Attempts to evade arrest
He also ran red lights and twice attempted to reverse into the police riders. As the pursuit comes to an end he pulls over and attempts to run away, as the abandoned Mercedes rolls down the street with the drivers door still open.
Ishaq, of Hey Street, Rochdale, who was already serving two court-imposed driving bans following a separate dangerous driving offence in December 2025, was arrested shortly afterwards.
Sentencing and police response
He later admitted dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, failing to stop and driving without insurance and was jailed for 16 months and disqualified from driving for five years.
Pc Matt Balkwell, from GMP's motorcycle unit, said: "This was an extremely dangerous piece of driving that put members of the public, officers and other road users at significant risk. Despite already being disqualified from driving, Ishaq chose to get behind the wheel and then attempted to evade police by driving recklessly through Rochdale at excessive speeds.
"His actions could easily have resulted in serious injury or loss of life. Thanks to the professionalism and determination of our officers involved, he was safely detained and has now been held accountable for his actions."
