Jailed: Burglar smashed into vehicles during Telford police chase
A driver who sped around the streets of Telford and Wolverhampton, crashed into vehicles and drove the wrong way along roads and roundabouts has been jailed for 34 months.
Adam Highfield was told by a judge at Shrewsbury Crown Court that he drove with “complete disregard” while trying to escape from police and put lives at risk.
Mr Robert Edwards, prosecuting, said Highfield had been disqualified from driving when he was involved in a police pursuit in Telford on the afternoon of April 28.
He said it started on the A442 but officers lost sight of the Vauxhall Astra he was driving.
They later caught up with Highfield after he hit a number of vehicles, including in the Sutton Maddock area where a woman had attempted to swerve to avoid a collision.
On December 28 last year, Mr Edwards said 34-year-old Highfield had been driving a white Mercedes in the Wolverhampton area when he was involved in another police pursuit.
The court was told Highfield drove in excess of the speed limits, including around the Bushbury estate, and drove on the wrong side of the road.
Mr Edwards said he travelled the wrong way along Stafford Road, a busy dual carriageway, causing drivers to take ‘evasive action’ to avoid being hit.
Highfield also went the wrong way around roundabouts.
Arrested
The police helicopter was deployed and Highfield was arrested after losing control and crashing the vehicle.
Highfield, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, without a licence or insurance
He had also admitted burgling a home in Ercall Heath, near Newport, Shropshire, last November.
Mr Edwards said Highfield stole an empty gun cabinet and left his blood and fingerprints at the scene.
In April, he also stole hundreds of pounds worth of goods from Dunelm in Kidderminster and Mothercare at Telford Bridge Retail Park, as well as £60 worth of diesel from a petrol station in Shifnal.
Mr Lukas Hamilton Eddy, representing Highfield, who appeared via video link from Hewell prison in Redditch, said he had a 12-year-old daughter.
Judge Peter Barrie jailed Highfield for a total of 34 months and disqualified him from driving for 41 months.
“You put members of the public at risk,” he said.
