A CAR thief who had a head-on smash following a high-speed police chase is facing a jail sentence.

Dean Wilkinson, aged 22, drove the stolen car at 90mph through Featherstone, in Staffordshire, after police spotted him and gave chase, Worcester Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

Wilkinson, of The Forest, Hampton Lovett, is charged with aggravated car theft, receiving stolen goods, driving without insurance and driving while disqualified.

He is also charged with two counts of stealing petrol. He admitted all the charges.

Julie Rosamond, prosecuting, said Wilkinson stole a car from Droitwich on Thursday, May 21. He was spotted by police in Featherstone two days later and drove off when they approached him, she said.

"There was a high-speed chase," she said. "Officers describe reaching speeds of 90 miles an hour, before he had a head-on collision with another vehicle, causing injury to the passengers.

"He was often on the wrong side of the road, went the wrong way round a roundabout, and was weaving in and out of traffic.

"He caused lorries to brake sharply as he cut in front of them, then hit a kerb and lost control of the car.

"It was a bad bit of driving."

Miss Rosamond said Wilkinson also bought a Peugeot 406, valued at £6,000, which belonged to Egerton Vehicle Contractors in Norfolk. He bought the car for £200 between Friday, March 22 and Tuesday, April 23, she said.

Charles Royle, defending, said he would save his submissions for the sentencing hearing.

Magistrates decided they did not have enough power to sentence Wilkinson and committed him to Worcester Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, August 16.

They said all sentencing options - including custody - should be considered.