Disqualified driver led police on 10-minute car chase around West Bromwich
A banned motorist who has never held a driving licence led police on a high-speed 10-minute car chase while almost four times the drink drive limit, a judge heard.
Police officers spotted that a headlight was not working on a blue Ford Transit travelling along Walsall Road towards Stone Cross, West Bromwich, at about 11pm on May 2, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
Craig Abbott made a U-turn after he realised there was a marked patrol car in front of him.
But the police officers saw the manoeuvre and followed suit while they switched on their siren and flashing lights, said Mr Geoffrey Dann, prosecuting.
The van ignored the order to stop and accelerated through residential streets at up to twice the 30mph speed limit, continued the prosecutor.
Abbott raced over speed bumps at 50mph, ignored give way signs, sped through a red light and went the wrong way round several traffic islands before coming to a standstill after a three-mile pursuit in the middle of Crockford Road, West Bromwich.
The 35-year-old from Phoenix Street, Greets Green, who had 14 previous convictions got out of the vehicle, which was on false plates, with his hands up.
He registered 120 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
Mr Philip Brunt said the defendant had been held in custody for nine weeks since the incident in which there was no collision and nobody was injured.
Abbott pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and drink driving.
He was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months with a four-month night-time curfew, three-year driving ban and £340 costs.
