Stolen Range Rover smashed into wall after 120mph police chase
A high-powered 4x4 stolen from a heavily pregnant woman led police on a high-speed chase through Walsall before smashing into a wall, a court heard.
The Range Rover Evoque, driven by 25-year-old Tahir Mahmood, hit speeds of 120mph on the M6 and later speeds of 60mph in 20mph zones in Walsall town centre.
Mahmood, of Monica Road, Small Heath, Birmingham, was eventually caught after losing control of the 4x4 at the junction of Queen Street and Bridgeman Street.
Birmingham Crown Court heard he slammed the vehicle into the wall of an industrial unit causing heavy damage to the building and the car on January 16.
The Range Rover had been stolen the day before in Solihull from a mother-to-be on her first day of maternity leave.
Mahmood pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods and dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and driving with no insurance.
All were committed in breach of a previous suspended sentence for theft, handling stolen goods and making off with paying for petrol on 13 occasions.
He was jailed for a total of two years.
Judge Mark Wall QC, said: "The car you were driving had been stolen the day before and in fact belonged to a lady who was 38 weeks pregnant.
"When you were seen by officers driving down the M6 motorway you were driving in a very dangerous way at speeds of up to 120mph, at times on the hard shoulder.
"Having left the motorway the dangerous driving continued. You went through a red light driving at excessive speed and on roads with speed bumps put there to control the speed of traffic. You failed to give way at a junction.
"On more than one occasion you looked like you were going to lose control of the vehicle. You then did so and collided with a building causing extensive damage."
The court heard Mahmood was a carer for his mother who suffered from depression and epilepsy.
Trevor Meegan, defending, pleaded for the court to show leniency.
He said: "His main responsibility is caring for his mother who has various health problems. His father is abroad at the moment so the burden falls on this defendant. He accepts he was in breach of the suspended sentence order."
However, Judge Wall added: "You were, at the time of driving, subject to a suspended sentence. I have no doubt when that was passed you were told what would be inevitable in event of a breach."
