A driver who sped through residential areas on the Shropshire-Staffordshire border is awaiting sentencing

Terry Leach took a Saab 93 saloon with passengers on an eight-mile chase that began on the outskirts of the town, magistrates were told Bridgnorth and ended on a narrow road under the bridge on Bratch Lane in Womborne.

Leach, 26, of Greenlawns, St Marks Road, Tipton, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and no license or insurance on January 28, 2024.

Sarah Beddow, prosecuting, said Telford The magistrates’ court heard that Leach had been involved in a “prolonged police chase” which involved going around blind corners at speed, forcing other cars to stop and with passengers in the car.

The chase began at 1.40pm near Stanmore Hall, near Bridgnorth, and headed along the A454 towards Wolverhampton.

Ms Beddow said the chase went through Wyken and Hylton and then through the third exit of the roundabout onto the B4176. After making two left turns at speed, he sped down Poole House Road on the outskirts of Womborne.

Ms Beddow said that after speeding down the residential area of ​​Bretch Common Road at more than 80mph, he approached the T-junction at 70mph before braking sharply and turning right at high speed onto Bretch Lane.

The court was told that the chase stopped on a narrow road under a bridge.

Ms Beddow said the route was “blocked by a member of the public”. But the court was not told whether the member of the public was on foot or in another vehicle.

The court heard that police drivers used “driving tactics” to end the chase, using blue lights and sirens, but Leach sped off.

“Disrespect for other road users”

“There was a disregard for other road users and he forced the person to brake to avoid a collision,” Ms Beddow said.

“For an extended period of eight miles, he was endangering people.

“It wasn’t dangerous at first, but it accelerated and became dangerous at that time.”

The prosecutor said these were serious cases that should be dealt with in the crown court.

Brendan Reedydefending PCB Solicitors, said he agreed the sentence was not appropriate for a magistrates’ court.

He said the offense could lead to a sentence starting at 36 weeks in custody, which would put it outside the magistrates court’s remit.

The magistrates agreed that they would not entertain the matter under jurisdiction.

They told Leach she would have to appear at Shrewsbury Crown Court on a date to be fixed and bailed him.

But they imposed a temporary driving ban and ordered the probation service to complete a pre-sentence report before sentencing.