A PROLIFIC Black Country crook who rammed a police patrol car in Dudley after being caught with a stolen vehicle has been jailed for three years.

Police officers found 43-year-old Richard Howell by chance with the stolen BMW in Langstone Road, Russells Hall and he then reversed into their vehicle.

Howell, who knew he would go back into custody having breached the terms of his release from an earlier prison term, then drove for a second time at the police car pushing it out of his path.

Howell had been tasered by one of the officers who also used a debilitating spray but he accelerated into Langstone Road only to lose control of the BMW and smash into a wall.

He was then tasered again, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told, before getting out of the BMW while armed with a sledgehammer and he shouted, "Come on then."

Caroline Harris prosecuting said Howell was hit once more by a taser before dropping the sledgehammer and he was then finally arrested by the two officers.

The defendant of Atlee Crescent, Bilston admitted driving dangerously, handling stolen property and creating immediate risk to the officers by threatening them with the sledgehammer.