80mph driver went through ELEVEN red lights fleeing police in Wednesbury

Filipe Vaz reached speeds of up to 80mph and went through 11 red traffic lights during the pursuit, which started in Hallens Drive, Wednesbury, at around 10pm on April 30, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The 32-year-old ignored an order to stop from a marked police car and accelerated into the distance after being spotted breaking a High Court injunction banning 'car cruising' - drivers meeting on public roads to race or show off in cars.

Mrs Sati Ruck, prosecuting, said: "He appeared to be racing two other vehicles and was asked to stop but failed to do so."

Vaz , of Polden Close, Halesowen, sped on to Weston Way and headed for Bilston, reaching up to 80mph on roads where the speed limit was either 30 or 40mph, some of which were dual carriageway.

He undertook at least one driver but police involved in the pursuit regarded the risk factor as no higher than 'low ' or 'medium' throughout the chase.

It ended when officers deployed a 'stinger' device across Stourbridge Road which burst two of the Honda Civic's tyres and forced the driver to come to a halt in a nearby car park.

Vaz made no attempt to escape on foot and confessed he had 'panicked' when ordered to stop. "He also said he was disgusted with his driving," said Mrs Ruck.

Vaz had already been given a six-month suspended sentence by the High Court for breaking the terms of the injunction in a separate hearing.

He received an interim disqualification following the chase but was caught driving again soon afterwards and is due to be sentenced for that by magistrates later this month.

Mr Christopher O'Gorman, defending, said: "He seems to be going through the teenage years he did not live the first time around. He is a father with children and really should know better."

Vaz pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to stop for police. He was given a four-month prison sentence suspended for two years and banned from driving for 18 months. He was also ordered to do 120 hours unpaid work and pay £200 towards the costs of the case.

Judge Peter Barrie told him: "This episode of driving has got you into a lot of trouble. First you were participating in cruising on public streets in contravention of a High Court order, then you drove away from police before being stupid enough to drive again after receiving an interim disqualification.

"But there was no collision, nobody was injured and it did not end with a complete loss of control of the car, so I do not feel it necessary to impose immediate imprisonment for the dangerous driving."