Minibus in high-speed pursuit through city

An uninsured driver led police on a 25 minute high speed chase in a 16-seater minibus through Wolverhampton before officers used a stinger to burst his tyres, a court heard.

Joseph Scarrett, who was carrying two passengers at the time, went through five sets of traffic lights on red as he tried to shake off a police car at speeds of up to 60mph.

His journey took him through Coseley, Bilston and Willenhall. A judge yesterday told Wolverhampton Crown Court it was "as bad a case of dangerous driving as he had heard".

He sent 20-year-old Scarrett to a young offenders institute for nine months.

The Ford Transit Van initially drove along Temple Street in the city centre and continued straight through a No Entry sign, the court heard.

The vehicle carried on to Snow Hill where it went straight through red traffic lights, activated a speed camera on Thompson Avenue and on into Birmingham New Road where traffic officers followed the vehicle.

It was eventually stopped by a stinger which punctured three tyres.

Before he was stopped, Scarrett carried out a dangerous U-turn, drove through a pedestrian walkway, and took the mini-bus onto the wrong side of the road.

He uprooted a traffic bollard while driving at night in poor conditions because roads were misty and icy.

Judge Michael Challinor told Scarrett it was not a brief chase or a moment of madness because the night-time pursuit, on November 29 at around 1.30am, lasted for 25 minutes adding: "You just went on and on."

He said: "I have to have regard to the perceivable harm you could have caused. What you did could have resulted in serious injury or even death.

"The message has to go out that if people get involved in high speed police chases they will lose their liberty."

Scarrett, of Gough Street, Willenhall, admitted driving dangerously and without insurance and he was banned from driving for two years.

Mr Thomas Schofield, defending, said Scarrett decided to drive away from police simply because he had no insurance. Mr Schofield said: "He bitterly regrets his actions of that night."