Mustafa Islam drove a stolen car on three tyres in a terrifying high speed police pursuit has been put behind bars for 10 months.

The Vauxhall Astra was taken in a car key raid on a house in Rowley Regis. The 18-year-old, who had taken drugs, went through traffic lights on red before driving the wrong way round Stourbridge Ring Road with sparks flying from the wheel rim after he lost a tyre.

The vehicle finally ground to a halt when a second tyre went flat and the trainee electrician was arrested by police, said Paul Spratt prosecuting.

He told Wolverhampton Crown Court that Islam accelerated away after ignoring a police request to pull over and he was then spotted in the Lye area as he hit 70mph in a 30mph limit.

Mr Spratt said the chasing police officers abandoned the pursuit when Islam went the wrong way round the ring road but the car was seen again minutes later in Greenfield Avenue.

Judge James Burbidge QC said it was clear Islam had been drinking and taking drugs before he tried to escape from police. He said:

"Sparks were coming from the car after you lost a tyre and mercifully nobody was coming in the opposite direction as you drove the wrong way round Stourbridge ring road."

"You could have killed yourself and your passenger while putting police officers in jeopardy - all because you wanted a joy ride."

Richard Mohabir, for Islam, told the court the teenager, who admitted dangerous driving and handling stolen property, said he panicked when he saw the police car. He added:

"He is a silly boy who admits he only took to the road because he fancied a bit of a joy ride."

Islam was sent to a young offenders institution by the judge who ruled only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate his crimes.