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A disqualified driver damaged three police vehicles during a high-speed chase in Birmingham - but avoided jail because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mohammed Hamzabutt, 20, also missed a pedestrian by inches during the 10 minute pursuit.

Judge Paul Farrer QC said the defendant had shown a "repeated and flagrant disregard for the rules of the road."

But continued: "These are exceptional times and I am going to take what I view as an exceptional course.

"It may well be you have had a lucky escape today."

Hamzabutt, of Cobham Road, Bordesley Green, had previously admitted dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

He was sentenced to 15 months jail suspended for two years and ordered him to pay £500 compensation.

Birmingham Crown Court was told that despite the fact that the defendant was disqualified he had bought a Volkswagen Golf and was driving it at 2.30pm on October 29 last year in Alum Rock.

When officers tried to stop him he accelerated away and was involved in a "prolonged" police pursuit through residential areas for over five miles.

During the pursuit he drove on the wrong side of the road, forcing other drivers to take evasive action.

Hamzabutt drove through one light partly on the pavement and through a second at a pedestrian crossing.

He reached speeds of up to 70mph on roads with a 30mph limit that were heavy with pedestrians.

At one point his tyres became deflated and he drove on the rims with sparks coming off but continued to try and get away.

On another occasion he drove the wrong way round a traffic island.

Judge Farrer said: "You drove at one stage on to the pavement to avoid being boxed in by pursuing police vehicles.

"In doing so you came within feet if not inches of striking an innocent member of the public with potential fatal consequences."

He said the only reason she was not hit was because she had the presence of mind to flee to the central reservation.

"You also struck and damaged three police cars."

The judge added: "The pursuit only ended when you crashed into the back of a car that was waiting to turn right.

"The force was sufficient for that car to be shunted into the path of oncoming cars who then had to take avoiding action."

The driver of that vehicle, a BMW, suffered whip lash injuries as a result.

Miohammed Riaz, defending said Hamzabutt was immature, suffered from depression and anxiety and two years ago his father had taken his own life.

He said fortunately no-one else had been injured to a significant degree.