A man who twice led police on car chases through built-up areas has been spared a jail sentence after turning to Islam.

Jamal Mohammed Al-Gani – who changed his name from John Harriott by deed poll – drove at 70mph along Newtown Road, Worcester, which has a 30mph speed limit.

A police inspector ordered a patrol car to stop the chase when it became too dangerous to continue, said William Rickarby, prosecuting. Next day, Al-Gani phoned police, gave a registration number of the Ford Fiesta car, and lied that it had been stolen in a bid to avoid prosecution.

Three months later he evaded police in Stafford who tried to pen his Mini in with two patrol cars, Worcester Crown Court was told. During the chase, Al-Gani drove through red traffic lights and passed a keep-left sign by driving on the wrong side of the road.

But Al-Gani, aged 22, of Shetland Close, Worcester, converted to Islam and was now drug and alcohol-free.

Judge Toby Hooper QC said his converson was “a great blessing” and meant he had begun to take his life seriously.

He said the risk to the public could be dealt with by a two-year community order during which Al-Gani would undergo a thinking skills course run by the probation service.

He was also banned from driving for a year and told to take an extended re-test.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving, attempting to pervert the course of justice, failing to stop and obstructing police.

The Worcester chase happened on March 29 last year after police spotted the Fiesta entering a junction at Rainbow Hill at speed.

One officer recognised him before he stopped. But Al-Gani ignored an order to get out of the car and drove off, said Mr Rickarby. The car was eventually abandoned.

On June 1 last year police saw him parked outside a Stafford pub. But he sped off before he was detained after driving into a cul-de-sac.

He had a record for possession of an imitation firearm, drugs, assault on police and public disorder. Charles Hamer, for Al-Gani, said he was brought up a Christian but described himself as the black sheep of the family.

His conversion while in prison for assault had made him remorseful and he was now committed to a different way of life.

The judge warned Al-Gani that if he did not “recover the straight and narrow” and breached the community order, he would face a jail sentence of more than 12 months.