Dangerous driver locked up after police chase
A man who led police on a high speed car chase, driving on the wrong side of the road and ramming the officers' car several times causing thousands of pounds worth of damage, has been jailed for 14 months and handed a two-year driving ban.
Paul Mansell was spotted by police driving a Rover at speed in Stephenson Avenue, Walsall, just before 1am on May 23, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
Mr Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said after the vehicle left a traffic island it was travelling at speeds of 60mph in a 30mph zone.
Officers unsuccessfully attempted to stop the car.
The court heard that the 30-year-old, of no fixed abode, then travelled around another traffic island the wrong way and on the wrong side of the road.
Mr Jones said the car travelled towards oncoming vehicles and caused a HGV driver to carry out an emergency stop.
The court heard it had been travelling in the region of 50mph and went through traffic lights on Green Lane when they were amber.
The car, which then proceeded into Croft Street, stopped and reversed into the police car on several occasions.
Mr Jones said a decision was eventually taken to stop the pursuit.
However Mansell was tracked down by officers a short time later and arrested.
Mr Jones said: "The damage to the police vehicle was in the region of £3,000."
He said a female officer, who had been in the car, had also suffered neck and back pain.
He said Mansell, who has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and damaging property, gave no comment when interviewed by police.
Mr Nigel Ford, mitigating, said the pursuit had taken place over a short distance which would have taken a few minutes to travel.
He said Mansell could provide no answer as to why he had not stopped for police.
He added: "The real puzzling matter is he was fully legal.
"It's very bizarre. If he had stopped, the police would have taken his details and found out he was legal, but he didn't.
"He now faces the consequences of that act."
Recorder Julian Taylor said the crime he had committed had been nearer the top end of dangerous driving.
He told Mansell: "This is a pretty awful piece of driving."
After handing him a 14-month prison term for dangerous driving, and a month jail term running concurrently for damaging property, he told Mansell he would also be disqualified from driving for two years.
