No jail for driver in police chase collision

A driver who destroyed a car in a police chase through Black Country streets has avoided jail.

University student Afrush Ali, aged 19, reached speeds of 45mph and ended up embedding his father's car in another vehicle.

Warley Magistrates Court heard the pursuit of Ali, of Victoria Road, Cradley Heath, began at about 10pm on March 20, in Wood Road, Lower Gornal.

The court heard Ali took the car he was driving without consent and drove off after smashing into a Renault Clio writing the car off.

At a previous hearing he admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving without insurance and leaving the scene of an accident and was warned he faced jail.

Magistrates yesterday heard police were following Ali who was in a Vauxhall Astra and saw him turn the corner into Wood Road.

They saw the car in the side of a Renault Clio which had to move so the Astra could move. He continued up the road.

Neither of the people in the Clio were hurt but the car was written off and there was also considerable damage to the Astra.

Mr Roger Corbett, defending, said: "This wasn't a joyride. This young man was actually trying to help out a friend. His friend had phoned him from Gornal.

"He is a driver for a food delivery take away. The van had broken down and he had no cash and no means of getting home so Afrush, being the relatively considerate chap that he is, went to help out a mate.

"It's not the case of a quick gallop round the lanes and causing trouble, he was actually going to do something positive."

Ali was banned from driving for 12 months, given a 12 month supervision order and told to do 150 hours unpaid work. He must pay £85 costs and £300 compensation.