A man who was killed in a high-speed crash on the M606 following a police pursuit was "showing a great deal of determination to escape", an inquest heard.

Yasib Ali Mahboob died on December 18, 2017, after being pursued in the early hours of the morning.

The 34-year-old, of Whitby Avenue, Girlington, had been driving an Audi A4 which collided with the barrier on the bend close to junction 26 of the M62. He died at the scene at around 3.40am.

An officer in a second vehicle, referred to as PC1408, told the inquest at Bradford Crown Court: "My assessment of the driver's actions was that he was showing a great deal of determination to escape and in my view, if someone is trying to escape like that, it's likely they've been involved in crime."

He added: "I certainly didn't expect the vehicle to go onto the motorway. It's a very unusual thing to happen in a pursuit."

The officer, who was a dog handler, described how when the police vehicles reached the crash scene, the Audi was "split in half" with Mr Mahboob laying on the carriageway.

He added that the spotter in the police helicopter overhead had reported there were heat sources: "We weren't sure whether someone had been thrown from the vehicle, so I searched the banks in case there was another injured party."

He also described how on-the-ground officers were vital in pursuits as they often ended up with an abandoned vehicle and someone trying to escape on foot.

Mr Mahboob had failed to stop for police in the Heaton area after he was seen reversing on to the main road of the Toller Lane roundabout before driving in the wrong direction

His vehicle was picked up by traffic officers, who pursued him.

The inquest had previously heard from a Tactical Pursuit and Containment (TPAC) trained officer, referred to as PC2922, who was driving the marked police BMW in pursuit.

Tactical contact was used to try and bring the uninsured Audi to a stop, but Mr Mahboob continued towards the city centre.

The pursuit then continued through the city, up Manchester Road, on to Mayo Avenue and on to the M606, where the police helicopter caught up with them overhead.

PC 1807, a student officer, who was the passenger in the BMW, told the inquest how he had reported the pursuit as "safe to continue" a number of times - with the backing of his more experienced colleague.

He added that following the tactical contact to Mr Mahboob's Audi, he did not notice any damage that would have affected how the vehicle drove.

When they reached the motorway he described how he saw from the speedometer their car had reached 130mph, but the Audi was still pulling away from them.

Of the 50mph bend as the M606 filters on to the M62 westbound, he added: "The gap had opened up so my thought process was that he would have slowed down and taken the bend and carried on to the M62."

Eleanor Fry, representing Mr Mahboob’s family, asked the officer about the decision to continue a high-speed pursuit onto a motorway with a "dangerous bend".

"You know, don't you, that this motorway is not long and straight," she said.

Ian Mullarkey, for West Yorkshire Police, reminded the officer, saying that Mr Mahboob had "slowed down and adjusted his speed according to the road conditions" earlier in the pursuit.

He added: "Was there any way of you knowing that he wouldn't do that this time and slow down to take the bend?"

"No," replied the officer.

The inquest had previously heard Mr Mahboob had 72 documented injuries, the main ones being to his head and neck, and was more than double the drink drive limit. There was also evidence of cocaine and cannabis use.

The jury inquest continues.