A 'maddened' motorist drove down footpaths in a bid to get away from police during a chase which reached speeds of 70mph.

Kieran Barnes also crossed a dual carriageway and drove the wrong way round a traffic island.

His Volvo had been followed in Redditch because one of its headlamps was not working, said Julia Sparrow, prosecuting at Worcester Crown Court.

The car eventually became stuck in a hedge and Barnes was arrested.

Barnes, aged 18, of Broadheath Close, Brockhill, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving uninsured.

He was sentenced to six months' detention and banned for 12 months. He must also take a retest.

Miss Sparrow said Barnes was spotted on July 5 about 10.30pm in Hewell Road. He failed to respond to the blue flashing lights of a patrol car and drove down a number of paths near housing areas in an escape bid.

Luckily, there were no pedestrians on the paths as the car was driven at 30-40mph.

In one 40mph restricted area, he drove at 70mph. He had previous convictions for drink-driving and violence and was already serving a 12-month sentence for assault.

Barnes told police he had acted "in a moment of madness" after a row with his girlfriend.

Brett Stevenson, defending, accepted it was a bad case of driving.

When he was released, Barnes wanted to move away from the area and start a new life in Wales.

Mr Stevenson said alcohol abuse had led to violence and crime and he had already spent a tenth of his life in custody.

Recorder Robert Juckes QC ordered the sentence to run consecutively with his present custodial term, adding: "People's lives were put at risk."