A motorist who drove half a mile down train tracks before abandoning his car has been jailed for 15 months.
Aaron O’Halloran, 31, caused £23,000 worth of damage to the railway and left rush hour commuters delayed for up to eight hours.
O’Halloran was caught after fleeing the car but left his mobile phone behind, which led the British Transport Police (BTP) to him and his arrest.
He drove through a gate at Duddeston Station in Birmingham before travelling towards Aston.
Footage released by BTP shows O’Halloran hurtling down the tracks at about 7.30am on 9 May this year. It was “immensely dangerous” and caused “significant risk” to passengers, BTP Detective Inspector Raymond Ascott said
O’Halloran was convicted of endangering people on the railway, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and using a vehicle without insurance.
He was jailed and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £156.
“The sentence handed to him reflects the severity of this crime and we are thankful no one was injured as a result of O’Halloran’s alarming behaviour.
“He’ll now have plenty of time to reflect on his idiotic actions in prison.”