A CRADLEY Heath driver who sped away from police officers because he had failed to renew his insurance policy has been spared time in a prison cell.

Richard Everill, aged 25, led the officers in an 18 minute high speed pursuit during which he went onto the wrong side of the road and failed to give way at junctions and roundabouts.

Police, in a determined bid to bring his BMW to a halt, twice unsuccessfully used stringer devices to burst his tyres but they finally achieved their aim on the third occasion.

Everill, who had taken cocaine, had been ordered to stop by the officers while driving in Oldbury but he accelerated away from the scene.

Richard Davenport, for Everill, said the only explanation his client - a man of previous good character - could put forward for his behaviour was the drugs.

He said Everill was not a drug addict but he was someone who had "problems" that has caused him a number of financial difficulties.

Mr Davenport told Wolverhampton Crown Court: "He was terrified at the time because he had not renewed his car insurance."

Everill, of Red Brick Close, admitted driving dangerously and without insurance and he was given a 10 month jail term suspended for two years.

He was further disqualified from driving for a year, ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work in the community and to pay £690 in fines and costs.