Bailed teen with no licence ploughed into tree during high-speed chase
A teenage tearaway who had never had a driving lesson in his life hurtled down a one-way street in the wrong direction at twice the speed limit, a judge heard.
Billy Ross did not even have a driving licence and had 'panicked' when spotted by police at the wheel of his mother's Rover in Lichfield Road, Pelsall, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
The 18-year-old – defying a night time doorstep curfew imposed as part of his police bail on an unrelated matter – led the officers on a terrifying high speed chase in a frantic bid to escape, explained Mr Paul Spratt, prosecuting.
Labourer Ross tore up to a junction on the wrong side of the road and careered past a No Entry sign into a one way street.
Mr Spratt said: "The Rover accelerated into the road reaching speeds of 60 mph in a 30 zone but fortunately there was no traffic coming in the opposite direction or else there would undoubtedly have been a serious accident."
The Rover continued at high speed through other side roads during a ten-minute pursuit which ended in near tragedy when he hit a kerb, lost control and ploughed into a tree in Field Road, Blakenall writing off the car.
He escaped uninjured, clambering out of the back of the wrecked vehicle into the arms of the law around 2.40am on December 31. "The car suffered catastrophic damage but his mother never made a formal complaint," concluded the prosecutor.
Ross was taken to hospital for a check-up and refused to give a blood sample for analysis to determine whether he had been drinking.
Mr Tim Talbot-Webb, defending, said: "He should have been at home observing the police night time curfew but got into the car to go and buy some cigarettes.
"When he saw the police patrol he panicked and drove in a stupid manner. He could have killed himself when writing off his mother's car but she continues to support him."
Ross from Abbotts Street, Bloxwich – who had been held in detention since the accident – admitted dangerous driving, failing to give a specimen, driving with neither insurance nor licence and failing to stop for the police.
Record Dennis Desmond told him: "You had not had a single formal driving lesson and so eventually and inevitably you lost control. It was fortuitous that nobody was injured as a result but you have already spent time in custody as a result."
Ross was given eight months detention in a Young Offenders Institution suspended for 18 months with 60 hours unpaid work and a three-month electronically monitored night time curfew, along with a 20 month driving ban and £400 costs.
