Teenager locked up and banned after 100mph Black Country race
A teenage driver who turned a main road into a 100mph race track has been locked up.
Christopher Akins was spotted by a police patrol on the Black Country Route between Bilston and West Bromwich late at night, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told yesterday.
Mr Patrick Sullivan, prosecuting, explained: "It is a popular spot for young people to drive cars while others watch."
He continued: "A police patrol saw two cars going on the opposite side of the road travelling side-by-side and heard their exhausts.
"The officers turned round to follow but the two cars were still pulling away when the police driver reached 98mph."
The two boy racers split at a round about and left in different directions, the court heard.
Mr Sullivan said: "One turned left and was never seen again. This defendant went right and continued to travel fast."
Akins, aged 19, turned off at the Keyway Junction and was soon doing 70mph in a 30mph zone but stopped at a red traffic light allowing the police patrol to catch up with him, the court was told.
"He was tearful when accepting what he had done," continued the prosecutor.
Mr Jasvir Mann, defending, said: "He is an ordinary, thoroughly decent, hard-working young man from a good family who makes no attempt to excuse his behaviour.There is no suggestion of alcohol or drugs being involved.
"He has had a severe lesson and has had to grow up very quickly."
Akins from Blackthorne Road, Wednesfield, of previous good character, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on March 9 and was ordered to be detained in a Young Offenders Institution for four months with a one-year driving ban that will only be lifted when he passes an extended test.
Judge John Warner told him: "You were racing at around 100 mph at one stage and doing it in a place where young people race and other young people watch and encourage you."
