Handcuffed Bilston prisoner in police car escape drama

Ricky Lloyd drove off in the vehicle with blue lights flashing and siren blaring, said prosecutor Mrs Sati Ruck.

Then the 26-year-old, who had a history of driving offences, reached speeds of up to 60 mph – twice the road's limit, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

During the eight-minute chase Lloyd mounted the pavement, drove the wrong way round a traffic island, travelled the wrong way up a one way street and went through three red traffic lights, said Mrs Ruck.

The drama that started outside the Turks Head in Wednesbury Lower High Street ended when Lloyd lost control and crashed into a parked car in nearby Gospel Oak Road.

He had been arrested by a passing police patrol who stopped after seeing five or six men "squaring up to each other" outside the pub around 10.45 on October 19 last year.

Mrs Ruck said: "The disorder seemed to break up except for this defendant who ran towards the vehicle shouting 'what has this got to do with you?' He was aggressive and drunk.

"Officers were then informed that he had started some disorder in the pub by apparently throwing glasses around. He was handcuffed with his hands in front of the body and placed in the rear of the police vehicle by an officer.

"As the policeman opened the driver's door he saw a colleague having difficulty arresting another man who was struggling and went to assist. In the rush he left the key in the ignition.

"When he turned to go back to the car he saw the defendant in the driver's seat and the vehicle beginning to move. He tried to open the door but it was locked. The car mounted the kerb, went down Lower High Street and turned left as the officer ran alongside trying to break a window with his baton."

After crashing, Lloyd put the car into reverse but this time officers managed to smash a passenger side window and halt his escape, the court heard.

Pipe fitter Lloyd had several previous convictions for both aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified, the court was told. Mr Jasvir Mann, defending, said: "He had drunk to excess and does not seek to blame the officer involved."

Lloyd from Brierley Lane, Bilston,admitted escaping from custody and aggravated vehicle taking. He was jailed for 20 months and banned from driving for five years by Recorder Edward Pepperall who told him: "You were rightfully and lawfully arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and, no doubt for something of a thrill, activated the siren and lights before embarking on an appalling piece of driving."