Chase driver in city terror

Sep 5 2007 By Paul Beard, Birmingham Mail

A MAN drove through Birmingham city centre so dangerously it was unsafe for police to follow, a court was told.

Delroy Taylor, 26, of Grandy's Croft, Chelmsley Wood, was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, with 12 months' supervision.

Taylor admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop for the police, having no insurance and driving while disqualified, was also banned for a year.

Ian Speed, prosecuting, told Warwick Crown Court that West Midlands Police officers saw a Honda Civic parked on double yellow lines in Stephenson Street, near New Street station.

They checked, and found that there was an "information report" on the car.

When Taylor got into it and drove away, he was followed by the police who indicated to him to stop.

"A pursuit ensued around the city centre at excessive speed, during which he went through red lights and the wrong way down one-way roads," Mr Speed said.

Because of the way Taylor was driving, officers decided it was too dangerous to continue the chase.

Shortly afterwards, Taylor was seen by other officers driving into Bradford Street at excessive speed, going through red lights and hitting another vehicle.

Taylor fled, but was caught. He said he had failed to stop because he had no insurance to drive the car owned by his partner.