Taxi driver pursued by police through the city (From Worcester News)

Taxi driver pursued by police through the city

8:20pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in News

A taxi driver led police on a pursuit through Worcester city centre after he left home in the early hours to get a packet of cigarettes.

Waheed Baig drove into the BP garage in Hylton Road at speed, attracting the attention of a police officer.

The officer spoke to him and formed the impression he was drunk, said Peter Grice, prosecuting.

Baig then suddenly drove off – his car knocking the policeman’s baton into his leg – before being pursued by patrol cars at speeds of up to 60mph.

Baig, aged 41, of Columbia Drive, Worcester, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, obstructing a police constable and driving with excess alcohol.

Recorder Michael Morse said he had come close to being sent to prison.

He said: “If a single person had stepped out, you could have been facing a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

“There were plenty of opportunities for that frightful consequence to come about.”

But he said Baig had stopped and surrendered when he realised he couldn’t outrun the police cars.

He banned Baig from the road for 12 months and ordered him to carry out 240 hours of unpaid community work.

Baig must also take an extended re-test before driving again.

Baig, who worked for city firm Cathedral Cars, left home on September 24 last year and drove into the garage at 2.30am.

Mr Grice told Worcester Crown Court that Baig drove through a red light in Shrub Hill Road and eventually surrendered in a housing estate after a 1.2-mile pursuit by two police vehicles.

A breath test showed an alcohol reading of 61mcg compared with the legal limit of 35mcg.

David Iles, defending, said Baig had lost his driving job but the firm hoped to re-employ him in a desk job on lower pay.

He had brought considerable anxiety on his family and had drunk too much that night.

Mr Iles said: “He wanted a packet of cigarettes but his local garage had none, so he went to the other petrol station where a special constable saw him.”

Mr Iles said Baig cared for his elderly parents and had an excellent reference from his employers.

He had caused no damage, nor injured anyone during the chase.

He said the minor injury to the officer on the forecourt was accidental.