A petrol thief who led police on a high-speed chase on one of Wolverhampton’s busiest roads after stealing fuel from Black Country filling stations has been banned from the roads for 18 months, it has been revealed today.

Danny Harris reached speeds of more than 50mph along the A449 Stafford Road, drove the wrong way round a roundabout and caused sparks to fly as he hurtled over speedbumps. At court yesterday Judge John Warner said Harris’s reckless actions had endangered others.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Harris, aged 42, of Albert Street, Tettenhall, had sped off with £385 worth of fuel during six hits on petrol stations.

He made off with fuel from the Gulf station and Somerfield forecourt, both in Walsall, as well as the Waitrose petrol station in Marston Road, Penn, Wolverhampton.

He used black masking tape to alter the number plate of his Ford Focus and avoid detection.

Miss Rhiannon Jones, prosecuting, said Harris sped off from police on April 8 after a patrol car turned on its sirens and lights.

She said: “The defendant screeched away, driving across give way junctions without stopping and causing sparks to fly when he went over speedbumps.”

Harris, an unemployed drug addict, was leasing the car through a disability mobility scheme.

He pleaded guilty to failure to stop for a police officer, driving without due care and attention and six counts of making off without payment on August 8.

Judge Warner sentenced him to two years supervision. He said: “You have an appalling record, 32 offences all together. In a way you are lucky to just to be up for careless driving and failure to stop. I hope I don’t see you again and if I do you know what will happen.”

Mr John Roe, defending, said Harris had been a drug addict since the age of 15.

He added: “He panicked when he saw the police lights behind him. It was a short moment of madness. He is no stranger to the prison environment but is fearful of it as it represents a step back in his life.”