Video shows arrest of illegal Black Country street racer

Traffic officers were on the lookout for dangerous drivers after a car cruising event was spotted in Wolverhampton and it wasn't long before a police pursuit through the streets began after a Vauxhall Corsa and an Astra were seen speeding round a traffic island and onto the Black Country New Road.

The Astra made off but police followed the Corsa, hitting 109mph as they caught up with it, but the driver failed to stop.

The pursuit was briefly abandoned when the Corsa swerved onto the wrong side of the Birmingham New Road for a third of a mile, before officers were able to safely follow it again as it headed towards Woodsetton, Dudley.

Officers backed off to allow the helicopter to safely lead the pursuit, and it guided officers in to block the Corsa and make the arrest.

Uninsured provisional licence holder Anthony Barnes, from Rowley Regis, was behind the wheel and was detained as the car was surrounded by officers and a police dog.

The 30-year-old, from Bridgefield Walk, has since been jailed for six months, suspended for 18 months, and banned from driving for two years after admitting dangerous driving, and driving without a licence or insurance. He was also ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work.

Anthony Barnes from Rowley Regis. Pic - West Midlands Police

Supt Rich Agar said of the case: “His driving was dangerous and the risks to others on the road were high, but Barnes completely disregarded their safety and his own.

“Street racing and illegal vehicle gatherings are a nuisance and a danger for our communities and we take the issue incredibly seriously.

“We get lots of complaints from residents and other road users who are put at risk by these gatherings, and we’ll continue to disrupt those who take part in them.

“We appreciate people’s passion for their cars, and many officers on our traffic unit share that passion.

“But we can’t tolerate people turning the roads of the West Midlands into their personal racetracks.”