Oldbury driver in 70mph car chase gets 14th ban

A man has been disqualified from driving for the 14th time after leading police on a chase through the Black Country reaching speeds of up to 70mph.

Kris Rowe was tailed through Sandwell for almost 20 minutes. The 23-year-old, released from jail seven days earlier, escaped another jail sentence after it was argued that being locked up had so far failed to stop him re-offending. Police picked up Rowe's Ford Ka in Ashtree Road, Tividale, at the start of the 10-mile pursuit through Warley.

He went round traffic islands the wrong way, narrowly missed hitting other vehicles and at one point switched off his lights.

He swerved past a second police car but lost control in Cornwall Avenue, Brandhall, and hit a lamp post.

The car rebounded and hit a police car but no-one was seriously hurt, David Lees, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court.

The chase, which began just before midnight on July 7, crossed the main A4123 Birmingham New Road as Rowe overtook a car waiting at red traffic lights.

Rowe, of Lion Farm, Oldbury, led police through a maze of streets he knew.

They included Brades Rise, Brades Road, Round's Green Road, Newbury Lane, Birchfield Lane, Titford Road, New Henry Street, Causeway Green Road, Grafton Road, Aldridge Road, Brennand Road and Edinburgh Road.

He was breathalysed after the crash demolished the lamp post and was found to have 28 mg of alcohol per 100 mililitres of blood - below the legal limit of 35.

Rowe notched up 57 offences in seven years - mostly involving vehicles.

He was banned from driving on 13 occasions - the last time on April 13 when he was also given 22 weeks jail.

Rowe admitted dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and having no insurance.

Sharon Bahia, defending him, said: "He appreciates, in hindsight, that he did not kill himself or anyone else."

She said he needed help in the form of structured intervention by case workers.

By Marion Brennan

Rowe got a 20-month suspended jail sentence with two-years supervision and told to do 200 hours unpaid work. He was banned from driving for a year.