Driver smoked heroin before high speed police chase which ended in crash
A banned driver was strung out on heroin when he smashed his car into a gate and lamppost after leading police on a high speed chase through the streets of the Black Country, a court heard.
Artaf Hussain was spotted by officers in a patrol car driving erratically on the Dudley Southern Bypass late on August 27 last year.
Wolverhampton Crown Court was told that when police put on their sirens the 28-year-old failed to stop and sped off in the direction of Netherton.
Hussain reached speeds of up to 60mph and repeatedly flashed his lights on and off during the mile-long pursuit. The court was told that after passing the Peartree Lane roundabout he continued down Cinder Bank, swerving across the road before turning onto The Sling.
Judge John Warner told him: "You swerved into a single lane and collided with a gate and lamppost. To make matters worse you then tried to pretend you were not the driver.
"The offence is aggravated by your record."
"While this is by no means the most serious offence of dangerous driving I have dealt with it is still one that requires custody."
The court was told Hussain, who worked in The Spice Lounge restaurant in Willenhall prior to his arrest, was serving a six month driving ban when he committed the offence. He had also been disqualified from driving on two previous occasions.
Mr Brett Wilson, defending, told the court that Hussain's behaviour had been affected by the fact that he was smoking heroin before the incident.
He said: "The underlying feature of this offence is his addiction to drugs. Since he has been remanded in custody he has sobered up with the assistance of Subutex and no longer suffers the withdrawal symptoms from heroin.
"His attentions have been focused on his work in the laundry department in prison. He wants to get on with his life and work towards becoming a chef at the restaurant where he works.
"He accepts he has a history of offending and hopes to turn his back on that. He takes full responsibility for the impact on society his actions could have had."
Hussain, of Slater Street, Tipton, was jailed for 14 months and banned from driving for two years.
He had previously denied dangerous driving and driving while disqualified. He was found guilty after a trial on August 1.
