Motocross menace sped through children's play area and pulled wheelies during Birmingham police chase - WATCH

Fabrice Tirant's 20-minute rampage started in Kitts Green after police were called to reports of off-road bikes causing a nuisance.

A police helicopter spotted Tirant in Gressel Lane and tracked his progress from 2,000ft as he dodged traffic and tore through parkland.

At one stage the 23-year-old speeds through a children's playground.

Tirant's tour on 28 February - all captured by the chopper's powerful on-board cameras - came to an end in Fordfield Road, Lea Village, after police colleagues on the ground were directed to intercept the bike.

He was found to be riding illegally on a provisional licence and had no insurance, while the bike had no lights, indicators and was not displaying a registration plate.

Unemployed Tirant, from Sheldon Hearth Road in Sheldon, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on 17 October where he was handed an eight-month jail term after admitting dangerous driving at an earlier hearing.

Sergeant Dave Lilwall, from the Sheldon Neighbourhood Police Team, said: "His riding was reckless… he put members of the public at risk.

"He was observed riding dangerously along residential streets, at speeds clearly faster than the traffic around him, under and overtaking vehicles at speed, pulling wheelies and tearing across parkland.

"The helicopter footage shows Tirant passing several pedestrians, some of whom had to take evasive action to avoid being hit.

"This kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable: anyone who rides off-road bikes illegally on our streets can expect to have the bike seized and be prosecuted. If anyone has concerns about the anti-social use of bikes in their community they should get in touch with their local neighbourhood police team so we can take action."

West Midlands Police is currently running an operation - codenamed Operation Wraithbane - to clamp-down on illegal and anti-social use of off-road bikes on the region's streets.