A REDDITCH man led police on a high-speed chase as he tried to escape being arrested for an alleged offence which, ironically, was subsequently dropped.

But the chase led to Alan Hall, aged 44, of The Glebe, Beoley, appearing at Warwick Crown Court, where he was jailed for eight months.

Hall, who was arrested at the weekend after failing to turn up at the court last week, had pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving and also admitted having no insurance or driving licence.

Sir Andrew Watson, prosecuting, said that in August last year, police officers on patrol on the outskirts of Redditch tried to stop Hall but he drove off.

He turned into Redhill Road and then Brockhill Lane, which was a "moderately narrow road" where he reached speeds of up to 70mph, skidding at junctions and forcing other vehicles to brake to avoid him.

He went through red lights into Weatheroak Hill and on a blind bend in Watery Lane, two cyclists had to leap into the hedge to avoid being hit by Hall's car.

Hall then headed back towards Beoley along Lilley Green Lane, and then through the village at 50mph, narrowly missing another car which was pulling out of a junction.

He drove out of Beoley along Chapel Lane and then turned into Moss Lane, an unsurfaced farm track which he raced along at high speed, hitting the branch of a tree which broke onto his car.

Hall, who had a number of convictions for driving offences, then stopped and ran off into a field where he was caught and arrested, said Sir Andrew.

Matthew Brook, defending, said: "It is somewhat ironic that it occurred because he was attempting to get away from the police but the earlier domestic incident for which they wanted to stop him has subsequently been dropped."

Jailing him, Judge James Pyke told Hall: "Over the past 30 years, you have repeatedly appeared before the courts for offences of violence, dishonesty and driving matters and you have been sentenced to custody on no fewer than 16 occasions.

"This offence is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified."