A DANGEROUS driver who reached speeds of 100 miles per hour as he twice escaped police was warned he faces jail for putting lives at risk.

Adam Curtis was found guilty of dangerous driving after a trial at the magistrates court following a high speed chase through the streets of Kidderminster and Stourport.

During the pursuit, which took officers past the site of a fatal crash which happened only a week before, the 22-year-old drove so fast he managed to twice outrun the police as he accelerated to speeds of at least 100mph.

Curtis of Sculthorpe Road, Kidderminster, admitted driving without third party insurance and said he was content to be sentenced for that and the dangerous driving at Worcester Crown Court on Friday.

This was despite him having no legal representation and having failed to attend a probation service appointment set up to get information to help the sentencing judge.

As a result Judge Robert Juckes QC adjourned the case for Curtis to get representation, telling him he was at risk of going to prison especially when the court must consider deterrent sentences in such cases. A gasp went up from the public gallery when the judge said Curtis was at risk of receiving an immediate custodial sentence.

"I think you may have underestimated the seriousness of the position you are in" judge Juckes warned the defendant.

The judge told softly spoken Curtis, who had to leave the dock to be heard: "It was not just that you tried to get away once from the police but twice and on both occasions lives were put at risk."

Thomas Griffiths, prosecuting, opened the case, describing how the pursuit began in Jubilee Drive, Kidderminster at 1.45am on April 28 this year when the defendant came to the attention of officers in a marked armed response car.

Mr Griffiths said Curtis's Ford Fiesta crossed onto their side of the road 'at speed' and that the driver 'struggled to retain control', showing no signs of slowing down despite the damp conditions.

Police turned around and followed the Fiesta as it travelled through residential streets at speed - officers said around 60mph as it approached Woodbury Road, the car by now 'significantly ahead of the response unit'.

Officers attempted to take a short cut to catch up with the defendant but despite this the Fiesta remained 'significantly in front' and the two officers in the response car lost sight of it. The car was then spotted again about 40 minutes later by another officer.

The same officers who had been involved in the original pursuit, now ahead of the Fiesta, attempted to deploy a stinger to deflate the tyres but without success.

Officers reported that the car now accelerated to speeds of at least 100mph on a 70mph road.

"The police were driving at 90mph but the Ford was still putting significant distance between the two cars" said Mr Griffiths who told the court the pursuit took them past the site of a fatal crash which had happened only seven days beforehand.

The chase continued towards Stourport where Curtis was driving at 90mph in a 30mph road.

Police attended the registered keeper's address and he was arrested. In interview Curtis said he accelerated 'harshly' and failed to stop because the thought he would be over the drink drive limit and had 'panicked'.

"He said he had put his foot down and admitted this was stupid and it was in an effort to get away from the police" said Mr Griffiths.

Curtis had 11 points on his driving licence including five points for careless driving and six points for a mobile phone offence. Other than that he had no previous convictions.

Curtis was interviewed by the court's probation liaison officer, Ignatius Concannon, having failed to attend a probation service appointment on a previous occasion.

The car valeter, who said he worked for Ford, told the judge he could not get out of work to attend the probation appointment and also said he was not eligible for legal aid which was why he came to court unrepresented.

The judge adjourned the case until Friday, August 16 in the hope Curtis can secure legal representation.

"It's very important that you act quickly in that regard" said judge Juckes.

Anyone convicted of dangerous driving has to pass an extended driving retest.