Driver who led police on 100mph chase through Telford avoids jail

Fasel Mehmood overtook cars by driving on the wrong side of the road through Telford and forced other motorists to slow down or swerve out of the way to avoid head-on smashes.

The 22-year-old fled in an Audi car after officers attempted to stop him in Wrekin Drive, Donnington, at about 9.40pm on April 6 this year.

When he stopped and gave up 10 miles later and on the outskirts of Newport via the A518 and the A41, officers discovered he had no licence or insurance and the car had no MOT.

Mr Robert Edwards, prosecuting, told Shrewsbury Crown Court that Mehmood reached top speeds of between "90 and 100mph" in conditions where the roads were soaking wet due to heavy rain and visibility was poor.

"The police driver, even with all his experience, said afterwards the pursuit left him feeling uncomfortable at times," Mr Edwards told the court.

"The pursuit was for 10.1 miles in total."

Mehmood, of Kingsland, Arleston, admitted charges of dangerous driving, driving without a licence and driving without insurance at a previous court hearing.

He appeared yesterday to be sentenced – and was given a suspended sentence.

Mehmood was sentenced him to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also banned from driving for 18 months, ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £350 costs.

Sentencing him, the Judge Jim Tindal said: "You are one of these young men who get into a car and think that you can do whatever the hell you want.

"You drove at absurd speeds in very bad conditions, where an experienced police driver felt it was unsafe pursuing you.

"You could have killed yourself, and you could have killed other people."

Mr Patrick Currie, for Mehmood, said: "He accepts fully the manner of his driving was dangerous."