A MOTORIST who drove two miles in the wrong direction on the A449 will have to wait until the new year to be sentenced – having been warned he may face jail.

Scott Fewtrell, 25, of Chedworth Drive, admitted a string of charges at a hearing at Worcester Magistrates Court last month, after the court heard he was involved in a 30-minute car chase with police.

He was due to be sentenced at Hereford Crown Court on Friday (December 8) but Judge Abbas Mithani adjourned the hearing until January 3 after finding Fewtrell was not being represented by a solicitor.

The court heard Fewtrell had failed to attend any appointments with his solicitor, beginning with a meeting on November 14.

“I didn’t have any appointments,” said Fewtrell, adding: “I was waiting for a call [from his solicitor].”

“It is important he has representation,” Judge Mithani told prosecutors, before granting the defendant bail.

“This is a case for custody, that’s why we consider it appropriate that you should be represented.

“You understand if you do not have representation you would be required to mitigate personally.

“You may well face custody,” he added.

The car chase ensued on October 24 after Fewtrell filled his car with £45 of petrol in Broomhall, but police twice had to call off the pursuit, believing it too dangerous to follow him.

Fewtrell eventually drove down Ombersley Road and abandoned the car, and was found by police in a nearby shed.

Magistrates heard the Fiat Punto car was used by a number of different people, and had been involved in other crimes for which Fewtrell was not responsible.

PC Lacey, one of the police officers following the defendant, said it was the most dangerous driving he had seen since he started working for the force in 2005.

He was charged with driving dangerously, using a car without insurance, driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with his licence and making off without payment.

The sentencing hearing on Friday had been due to take place at Worcester Crown Court but was switched to Hereford at the last minute.

At the hearing, Judge Mithani asked Fewtrell which court best suited him for the sentencing, to which he answered “Worcester”.

“Then, we will have this in Worcester,” said the judge.