Driver just missed hitting Wolverhampton's Mander Centre in 70mph police chase

Vladmir Matta turned onto King Street before veering left onto the pedestrianised Dudley Street as he tried to give police the slip, narrowly missing shop fronts as he headed towards the Wulfrun Centre in his Mazda, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

He then cut across police past Primark and went onto Bilston Street as he attempted to escape the city centre's narrow streets, running red lights. Slovakian national Matta then headed for the ring road and the camera on the dashboard of the police car showed he reached 76mph on the Birmingham New Road before his journey was brought to an abrupt end when he lost control and clipped a parked car, sending the Mazda into a spin.

He was arrested by officers as he attempted to get out of the car and was found to be almost twice the drink-drive limit. Matta, aged 29, of Leslie Road, Park Village, Wolverhampton, told police he couldn't remember what had happened as he had downed a bottle of vodka.

Footage of Matta's reckless driving was played at Wolverhampton Crown Court, where he was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and driving while disqualified. A van had to swerve to avoid Matta as he sped past.

The judge heard police were alerted to Matta's car as it had no lights on. When officers flashed their blue lights indicating for him to pull over, the drunk driver tried to get away.

Judge Simon Ward described his driving as 'terrifying'.

Mr David Swinnerton, prosecuting, said it was fortunate there was nobody walking along Dudley Street at the time and that surrounding roads were quiet. It was around 3.50am in November 2013 when police chased Matta through the city centre.

It took so long for Matta to be convicted as he failed to attend a court case in February 2014 and left for his native Slovakia, where he stayed for six months.

Mr Swinnerton told the court: "He accelerated away on King Street onto Dudley Street. He was described as narrowly missing the glass doors of the Mander Centre as he turned onto that road.

"In interview, he said he had gone for a drive after consuming vodka."

Mr Oliver Grimwood, defending, said: "When police were following him at the start he was doing about 15 or 20mph. It was only after he left the high street that he started to accelerate.

"Thankfully, there were no pedestrians on that road at the time, and the white van managed to pull in before he approached."