No turkey for prolific criminal jailed after police chase ends in ditch

Jamie Hillman, who has previous convictions involving 125 separate offences, ran into trouble when ordered to stop by police as he drove along Bushbury Lane, Bushbury on May 24, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

They correctly suspected the 40-year-old driver did not have insurance, explained Ms Sarah Allen, prosecuting, who continued: "An officer got out of their car and walked towards the silver Nissan Almera which had stopped but accelerated away before he reached the vehicle."

Hillman hit speeds of 80mph on residential streets with a 30mph limit as he narrowly avoided a collision on several occasions while forcing other drivers off the road and went round traffic islands in the wrong direction.

The three-mile chase ended after he turned off Bognop Road in Essington in a bid to drive across a field but ended up in a ditch, the court heard. He then ran away but was tailed by police officers until he fell down.

The defendant - described as a prolific burglar - was on licence after being released early from a prison sentence imposed for burglary, fraud and theft offences, it was said.

Mr George Smith, defending, declared: "It was a spur of the moment reaction that started the pursuit.

"He has spent a lot of time in prison during his life and says he has not had a Christmas out of prison for 23 years but maintains he is now a changed man after meeting a new partner."

Hillman, from Burton Crescent, Heath Town, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and having no insurance and was jailed for eight months with a year long driving ban on release.

Judge James Burbidge QC told him it had been an appalling piece of driving performed in an afternoon when there was lots of traffic on the roads and added: "You had near collisions on more than two occasions, drove the wrong way around traffic islands and ended up in a ditch after trying to drive across a field.

"Then you tried to run away but you were chased until you tired out and fell down."