JAILED: Driver crashed head-on into taxi while going wrong way in West Bromwich

Lee Chalmers was being pursued by police after he went through a red light but the officers gave up the chase because it became too dangerous when they saw him ignore the no entry sign, a judge heard.

The patrol car turned off its siren, went the right way through Stone Cross in West Bromwich and arrived in time to see the damaged black Suzuki being driven by the defendant emerge from the system, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The 42-year-old window cleaner abandoned the vehicle and tried to run away but was quickly caught and brought to the ground by the officers.

The short car chase started when they spotted the Suzuki being driven through a red light minutes before midnight on June 29 and started to follow the vehicle, explained Mr Nicholas Burn, prosecuting.

Chalmers came to a standstill before they turned on the sirens and the patrol car pulled up alongside to talk to him.

Moments later he sped off but the officers had smelt alcohol on his breath and immediately gave chase.

The defendant reached 50mph in a 30 zone before forcing his way through stationary cars to drive through another red light, continued the prosecutor.

Chalmers then made the "highly dangerous manoeuvre" into the one way system and collided with the taxi which police have not been able to trace, the court heard.

Then he refused to give a blood sample to check if he was over the drink and drug driving limit after being taken to a police station.

Mr Lewis Perry, defending, said Chalmers was addicted to anti depressants and had not got enough money to insure the Suzuki he had bought from a friend.

The lawyer maintained: "He panicked and tried to get away. He was ashamed and very remorseful. It all centres around his state of mind."

Chalmers from Andrew Road, Halesowen pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to provide a specimen and having no insurance.

He was sent to prison by Judge Amjad Nawaz who told him: "You could have killed somebody. You knew you had been drinking and were over the limit.

"You panicked because you were driving illegally after cancelling your own insurance and then failed to cooperate at the police station."