Police car rammed in chase

A man from the West Midlands with a poor driving record led police on a terrifying high-speed chase through Staffordshire in a stolen car, a court heard.

Jobless Kevin Pedley, aged 24, repeatedly rammed a patrol car tailing him during the pursuit in which he also veered violently across the road and dangerously overtook, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told. He tore along residential streets in Cheslyn Hay and Cannock at more than twice the speed limit forcing other drivers to brake and swerve out of the way.

Police were so worried for the safety of others they stopped trying to keep pace with Pedley who had 19 previous convictions for driving whilst disqualified and 13 for taking vehicles.

But he and his passenger 25-year-old James Hammerton, both jailed yesterday, were both arrested later the same day after abandoning the stolen Vauxhall Corsa in a supermarket car park in Great Wyrley, the court was told.

Miss Sati Aujla, prosecuting, said the pair, who both live in Chepstow Way, Bloxwich, were filmed by CCTV cameras getting into the vehicle on a car park in Cheslyn Hay the day after it was stolen from Ashmore Park, Wolverhampton, and police were alerted.

She said: "There was a 10 minute chase at up to 70mph through streets with a 30mph limit during which Pedley twice braked sharply and reversed at speed into the police car behind him.

"He overtook on the wrong side of the road, failed to give way at junctions."

She said the pursuit, which happened on August 22 last year, was stopped for safety reasons.

Police were given descriptions of the men who left the vehicle from eyewitnesses and arrested Pedley and Hammerton in the street nearby soon afterwards.

Pedley admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving whilst disqualified and failing to stop for police. He was jailed for 15 months and banned from the roads for four years after which he will have to take an extended test to win back his licence.

Hammerton, a carpenter, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking and was given a nine month term behind bars with a two year driving ban.