Motorway chase man escapes jail

A MAN who led the police on a chase at speeds of up to 100mph along the M42 was dragged from his car when it ended up on its roof in some bushes after he lost control near Solihull.

Despite his horrific driving, Kalveer Shocker narrowly escaped being jailed when he appeared at Warwick Crown Court after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and excess alcohol.

Instead Shocker (20) of Harrold Road, Warley, was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for two years and was ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for two years.

Prosecutor Kate Thomas said that on November 30 police officers were driving along the A491 from Belbroughton towards the M5 at 4.30 in the morning when, just in front of them, a Ford Focus shot out from Money Lane to join the main road.

Instead of going along the filter road, it pulled straight out, going onto the off-side before returning to the correct side of the road and continuing towards the motorway.

The officers followed as Shocker drove with his headlights on full beam, dazzling other drivers, so put on their blue lights to get him to pull over.

He pulled into a lay-by and stopped, but as one of the officers walked over to his car Shocker suddenly accelerated away with the wheels spinning as he did so.

At junction four of the M5 he went the wrong side of keep left arrows and appeared to be about to head south along the northbound carriageway until he suddenly did a u-turn and then joined the southbound carriageway.

The motorway at that point was subject to a 40mph speed limit because of extensive road works, but Shocker was doing 70-75 for about two miles until he reached junction 4A.

There he joined the M42 where his speed increased to 85mph and then, after pulling into the outside lane, 100mph.

As a high-powered police BMW took up the lead position in the pursuit, Shocker maintained his high speed and began undertaking other vehicles whose drivers had to brake to avoid him.

He continued round the M42 after the junction with the M40 until he reached junction 4 where he pulled off at the last moment onto the A3400 Stratford Road.

Shocker went through a number of red traffic lights at high speed before clipping the kerb as he tried to negotiate the roundabout at Box Trees Road.

His car flipped over and ended up on its roof in some bushes and, with smoke or steam coming from the engine, officers rushed over, smashed the driver’s window and dragged him out.

When he was arrested he failed a breath test, and a later blood sample gave an alcohol reading of 94 compared to the legal limit of 80, added Miss Thomas.