Man given one-year driving ban

A man has been banned from driving for a year after pleading guilty to driving and drug offences.

Thomas Ball, 25, of Walsall, was sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on Thursday (24 March) having initially pleaded not guilty before changing his plea to guilty for driving a motor vehicle dangerously and being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin.

Ball has been banned from driving for a year, given a two-year custodial sentence suspended for two-years, ordered to attend 25 days of rehabilitation, carry out 300 hours of unpaid work and provide drug samples for up to six months as part of his rehabilitation.

The court heard how officers attempted to stop Ball who was driving a silver Mercedes on 14 March 2020 on The Parade, Brownhills.

Ball failed to stop for them.

Officers pursuing the Mercedes stated the manner of driving fell far below the standard of a competent driver and described as dangerous. The pursuit was called off.

A short time later, the same pursuing officers were informed by a member of a public a silver Mercedes had been abandoned in a nearby field.

Officers were able to locate the driver of the Mercedes in Pelsall.

A man was arrested on suspicion of driving a motor vehicle dangerously.

A mobile phone was seized by officers.

Officers also conducted a search of an address where they found a quantity of drugs.

Detective Sergeant Jon Bradbury, of Staffordshire Police Disruption Team South, said: “We are pleased that Ball admitted the offences in court. His standard of driving was unacceptable and we are glad he has been banned from driving for a year.

"We will continue to proactively seek out and disrupt drugs activity on the streets of Staffordshire to ensure our communities remain safe places to live."