A 26-year-old father-of-three, who drove around Stourbridge Ring Road the wrong way during a high speed police pursuit, has been locked up for a year.

During the chase, Richard Cooper forced other drivers off the road to avoid a collision as he drove on the wrong side of the road and the wrong way around traffic islands.

While sentencing him at Wolverhampton Crown Court Judge Michael Elsom told Cooper: "Your driving was quite disgraceful. Happily no-one was injured but, in my judgement, the risk was very grave indeed."

Sati Ruck, prosecuting, said Cooper deliberately drove straight at a police officer in Heath Road, Netherton, who motioned for him to stop and had to quickly jump out of the path of the vehicle.

A police patrol car then spotted the car a few minutes later and Cooper accelerated away at speed before forcing another motorist to drive his vehicle onto the pavement.

The court heard how Cooper then drove across two football pitches in the Merry Hill area and tried to reverse into the patrol car but the police driver was able to get out of the way - Mrs Ruck added.

He then went the wrong way around Stourbridge Ring Road before going into a cul-de-sac where he crashed into the patrol car.

Cooper, of Edenbridge View, Dudley, admitted driving dangerously, failing to stop for police and having no insurance or licence.

David Bratt, defending, told the court Cooper accepted he had acted in temper after a dispute and, when he saw the police officer, he panicked because he had no driving licence.

Mr Bratt continued: "He feared there would be repercussions and that is why he behaved so badly in what was a moment of stupidity.

"He accepts it was appalling driving and he is full of remorse for his actions."

Cooper was further disqualified from driving for 18 months by the judge who was told his previous convictions including robbery, violence and driving while disqualified.