Car-chase fuel thief is locked up

A fuel thief who led police on a 99mph chase from Wolverhampton into Shropshire, running red lights and driving on the wrong side of the road, has been locked up.

Mohammed Arif overtook traffic waiting at red lights in Chapel Ash at 60mph and hit 80mph on Tettenhall Road after stealing just £38 of petrol from Asda Great Bridge, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told yesterday.

The 20-year-old later hit 99mph before being caught after abandoning the Rover saloon in a car park at Whitchurch near where he lived.

Prosecutor Paul Reid said the vehicle was spotted by police in Parkfield area of Wolverhampton several hours after driving away from the forecourt without paying.

Arif accelerated away when he realised the car was being followed and raced along the city's Ring Road at 64mph before overtaking traffic waiting at red lights in Chapel Ash at 60 mph and reaching 80mph in a 30mph limit on Tettenhall Road, the court heard.

Mr Reid explained: "The car went through several sets of red lights, made a number of dangerous overtaking manoeuvres and occasionally drove on the wrong side of the road."

Arif swerved away from a police bid to box in the Rover, sped past a patrol car at 90 mph and took a roundabout as 70mph as the pursuit headed into Shropshire where officers from the West Mercia force joined the chase.

The motorist, who has never taken a driving test, careered over speed bumps before dumping the Rover in a pub car park in Whitchurch and fleeing on foot with the other two occupants of the vehicle, said Mr Reid. Police managed to corner Arif nearby.

Arif from High Street, Whitchurch admitted dangerous driving and making off without payment on September 13 and was ordered to be detained in a Young Offenders Institution for 17 months.