Driver spared jail after caught driving at twice the speed limit at night without lights

At one stage Shane Hallard travelled on the pavement on the wrong side of the road before ploughing into a wall, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The 25-year-old also went through a red light and hurled a package of drugs out of the window after being spotted driving out of Wolverhampton along the Stafford Road shortly before 2am, said Mr Patrick Sullivan, prosecuting.

He then obeyed a request by officers in a police patrol to stop on the round about beneath the M54 but sped off as they approached the Vauxhall Astra on foot after parking their vehicle.

Mr Sullivan said: "He reversed and drove around the police car heading towards Stafford on the A449, still without lights, and drove at up to 80mph in a 40 limit."

The Astra, which belonged to the former partner of father of three Hallard and had been taken by him without her permission, turned off at a traffic island onto Brewood Road and reached 90 mph, the court was told.

He threw out of the window a package, later found to contain his £200 monthly supply of cannabis, and ran along the pavement on the opposite side of the road before smashing into a wall and parked car, it was said.

Mr Sullivan continued: "The pursuing police officers pulled him from the vehicle for his own safety since it was smoking."

Hallard from Coronation Road, Heath Town, who had been alone in the Astra, received facial injuries and a dislocated elbow in the crash that happened on March 2. He had only ever had a dozen driving lessons still holds a provisional licence, it was said.

Mr Jon Roe, defending, said: "He is very fortunate that nobody else was injured. He is now determined to stay away from drugs and offending."

Hallard, who admitted failing to stop, aggravated vehicle taking, possession of cannabis and not having a suitable driving licence, had gone five years without a conviction before the incident, the court heard.

He was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended under supervision for 12 months with a 20 week night time curfew. He was also banned from driving for a year and will not get a full licence until he has passed an extended test.

Judge John Warner said: "It was a dreadful piece of driving but I will not send you straight to prison because you had kept out of trouble for five years."