A FORMER Manchester United Academy footballer who has been locked up after trying to outrun police in a 98mph car chase used his jailbird dad as an excuse.

Callum Dolan, who had just signed a contract with Oldham Athletic, will spend eight months in prison after he ran away from cops who spotted him texting at the wheel in Greater Manchester.

Dolan's lawyer told the court football means everything to the 18-year-old and his reckless behaviour was the result of a 'disruptive' childhood during which his dad took him on raids when he was 11.

As officers chased Dolan he sped through red lights and ended up crashing his friend’s Renault Clio.

He was arrested after a short chase on foot.

The police chase happened nine days after Dolan had signed as a trainee for Oldham Athletic on a year-long £1,000 per month contract in August.

His lawyer Iain Johnstone said: "Oldham Athletic are prepared to stand by him but only if the sentence doesn’t result in custody.

“The club are very impressed with him and he is a young player with huge amount of potential.

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"On that day it was his desire not to let the club down which led to him borrowing the car to try and get to training without being late.”

Mr Johnstone added: "He didn’t have the best upbringing he was abandoned by his mother aged four and that left him the care of his father who was an active criminal who took young Dolan on jobs with him from time to time.

"Although he may not have discussed it with detail it’s had a profound effect on him and his father ended up up in prison when he was 11.

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"He doesn’t really have very much else in his life and he lives and breathes football.”

The court heard Dolan, from Offerton, Stockport, had been previously banned from driving for 12 months after being caught drink driving following an incident in which he tried to outrun another police patrol.

The Sun Online has approached Oldham Athletic for a comment.

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