Driver jailed after police chase through Black Country estate
A driver, who led police on a high speed chase around two Sandwell estates, was starting a seven month jail sentence today.
Damel Smith panicked when a passing police patrol did a U turn in Shaftesbury Street, West Bromwich to check on the stationary Corsa which he was driving at 3.15am on February 6, a judge heard.
The 22-year-old had two wraps of cannabis and feared he would be recalled to prison because he was still on licence after being released early from a 30 month sentence for cocaine dealing, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
Smith accelerated away ignoring an order to stop and was pursued by the police car as he headed for the Tantany estate where his passenger leapt out of the still moving vehicle in Clive Road and fled, explained Miss Sally Cairns, prosecuting.
The chase continued as the hired Corsa rushed onto the Hateley Heath estate at twice the 30 mph speed limit with its lights switched off.
A second police car joined the pursuit in Schofield Avenue while the defendant drove the wrong side of bollards, careered over speed bumps and narrowly missed a wall when he lost control, continued Miss Cairns.
Then the defendant drove across a car park into Orwell Drive where he dumped the car, threw the ignition key into a garden and tried to run away but was quickly caught.
A search unearthed the two wraps of cannabis and Mr Lee Masters, defending, maintained: "This made him panic when he saw the police car approaching because he thought possession of the drugs would result in him being returned to jail for breaking the terms of his licence."
Smith from Gladstone Street, West Bromwich admitted dangerous driving, driving without either a valid licence or insurance and possession of cannabis.
He was jailed for 32 weeks and banned from driving for 18 months on his release by Recorder Alistair Smith.
