A car thief took police on a 100mph chase through part of the Black Country – driving on the wrong side of the road and hurling missiles at them.

Stephen Holmes, who was on bail for another offence at the time, swerved at the police cars pursuing him and threw heavy items including a wheel lock and tools. The high-speed chase lasted for 35 minutes.

More than 25 police officers and 12 police cars were involved in the drama. One police car had a windscreen smashed while two others suffered minor damage.

It all started after Keith Williams reported his Red Nissan had been stolen from outside his house in Badsey Road, Oldbury, on Tuesday night.

Police saw the car, which is worth about £200, in Coopers Lane, Smethwick, at 1am on Wednesday and the chase began. But officers pulled away when Holmes started driving on the wrong side of the road.

Holmes was spotted again on the northbound carriageway of the M5 and was followed onto the M6 and then back onto the M5, doing speeds of up to 100mph.

Miss Kelly Hale, prosecuting at Sandwell Magistrates Court yesterday, said it was at this point he started deliberately swerving at police and throwing items out the car. She said weather conditions were poor and there were lots of other drivers on the motorway at the time.

One police car’s windscreen was smashed and officers abandoned the chase for the second time.

Holmes, of no fixed abode, was arrested after he drove onto a coned area where roadworks were being carried out, between junctions five and six of the M6.

He was stopped by a stationary police car.

The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified, theft of a car and driving with no insurance.

He was remanded in custody and committed to Wolverhampton Crown Court for sentencing on November 24.