Jail for driver caught driving while disqualified for 17th time

Paul Spalding careered through residential roads at up to 100 mph after doctors warned him not to drive, a judge heard.

Spalding slowed and stopped when ordered to by suspicious police officers in St John's Road, Halesowen, but quickly threw the Audi into reverse and accelerated into the distance, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The 48-year-old went through a red traffic light, sped across a junction without stopping and hurtled along narrow streets with cars parked along both sides at 1.15am, explained Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting.

Police pursued the defendant as he headed towards Blackheath and reached 100 mph - over three times the legal limit - in Nimmings Road but moments later lost control, smashing into a round about.

The Audi, which was on false plates and had been 'borrowed' from an unnamed person by Spalding, was too badly damaged to continue and he was detained by police at the scene on October 1.

It was then discovered he was banned from driving and had a wrap of cocaine hidden in a sock.

He had previous convictions involving 91 different offences and this was the 17th time he had been prosecuted for driving while disqualified, concluded Mr Searle.

Miss Blondelle Thompson, defending, conceded: "This was an appalling piece of driving by a man who should not have been driving.

"He cannot explain his behaviour and cannot remember what happened but he put people in danger.

"He had been told by doctors that he was unfit to drive because of health issues. He needs to take his medication and receive assistance from medical professionals while in prison."

Spalding, from Frobisher Way, Smethwick, admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, having no insurance and being in possession of cocaine.

He was jailed for 16 months and banned from driving for three years on release.

Judge Simon Ward told him: "This was a terrifyingly dangerous piece of driving by you. When the police pulled you over you decided to try and outrun them by driving through residential streets at up to 100 mph.

"In the end you crashed because you were driving so fast. It is only through luck that nobody was hurt or killed.

"You were driving inches away from parked cars at insane speed.

"If that was not bad enough you had been told by doctors you should not be driving for health reasons."

The court heard that the defendant's unspecified complaint led to him falling asleep unexpectedly.