Drink-driver jailed after 90mph car chase
An 18-month jail sentence was today being faced by a drink-driver who careered through the streets of Wolverhampton at speeds of up to 90mph.
Dilip Patel was followed by police as he sped through Wednesfield before crashing into a car containing a young family and coming to a stop.
He then jumped out of his hired Renault Clio and made off, showing no concern for the people he had crashed into, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday. He was first spotted by police officers.
Prosecutor Kanwal Juss told how the 26-year-old reached speeds of up to 90mph on Wednesfield Way during the pursuit on October 9 last year.
He was seen driving at speed during the early hours of the morning on Stafford Road.
He failed to stop for officers and went on to clock speeds of up to 60mph along Fox's Lane, Cannock Road, and then 50mph on Woden Road.
Miss Juss said Patel, of Waterloo Road, city centre, then turned onto Wednesfield Way where he hit his top speed.
He came to a stop in a tunnel on Showell Road, Bushbury, where he collided with a woman who was driving with her two young children.
She suffered an eye injury as a result while her son suffered bruising and chest pain.
Patel tried to make off but was collared by police and a security guard from Strykers Bowling Alley.
Miss Juss said Patel, who had a previous conviction for drink driving from 2004, was around one-and-a-half times the legal drink drive limit when tested by officers.
He blew 58mg per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.
Miss Sarah Hurd, for Patel, said he had since beaten an addiction to alcohol. He admitted dangerous driving, drink driving and driving without insurance. "He is able to drink socially but has no problems with alcohol anymore," said Miss Hurd.
Jailing him, Judge John Wait said: "This episode of dangerous driving was as bad as it gets."
