Man jailed for driving 70mph in Shrewsbury police chase

Wilson Wunganai drove along busy Whitchurch Road in Shrewsbury at speeds of up to 70mph and overtook into oncoming traffic as he approached the Harlescott railway crossing while being pursued by officers.

The Zimbabwean asylum seeker finally droved into a cul-de-sac, jumped out of the car and ran off, jumping over fences into gardens. He was arrested by police after a chase on foot.

Wunganai, 25, of Graiseley Street, Wolverhampton, was found guilty of driving whilst disqualified and dangerous driving at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday. He had denied the two charges.

Judge Robin Onions, who heard Wunganai was currently in custody while the immigration authorities decided his future, jailed him for 15 months saying he would have to serve half.

He told him: "I would have ordered your deportation. I can no longer do that and have to leave your future to a government department."

The jury was told that Wunganai had been driving a Vauxhall Insignia when he was followed by police in the Ditherington area of Shrewsbury on the night of October 12 last year

In sentencing Judge Onions said: "It was an appalling piece of driving, at speeds of up to 70mph. You drove over verges at high speed, overtook into oncoming traffic on the Whitchurch Road and overtook again on the approach to the Harlescott railway crossing.

"You crossed mini islands as if they didn't exist and in a vain attempt to get away from police made the mistake of going down a one way road."

Wunganai told the jury he had not been the driver but had been the passenger in the car on the night.

Miss Debra White, for Wunganai, said it had not been the most dangerous piece of driving to come before the courts.

The court heard that Wunganai had five convictions, most for driving offences and had been sent to custody in 2006 for attempted robbery.