A MAN who drove dangerously in a stolen car has received sympathy at Worcester Crown Court over the murder of his brother.

Eilahi Khan, 27, first appeared at the court in January but the case was adjourned because he was in mourning for his brother, a father-of-four.

Recorder Allan Mainds told him: "You are hard-working and well thought-of by the community. You have suffered the dreadful loss of your brother."

Khan, of Abbotsford Road, Small Heath, was said to have behaved out of character by his counsel, Brian Dean, in driving a £10,000 BMW that had been stolen from a driveway in Blackwell on January 3.

Prosecutor Robert Davies said it was not known who had stolen the car by the use of a fake fob. Khan had admitted handling the car, the property of Mandy Hargeaves.

She reported its disappearance and it was spotted by police on the A456 near the M5 junction a short time later. They followed the BMW onto the Quinton Expressway, where it exceeded the 40mph limit before hitting a roundabout and finishing up in brambles.

Mr Dean said Khan was now the head of the family, caring for his father and looking after his brother's widow and their four children.

The court was told that the BMW had cost £6,500 to repair. Khan, who had admitted dangerous driving and handling stolen property, was ordered to pay £500 compensation to Mrs Hargreaves and a £100 victim surcharge.

He was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work. He was disqualified from driving for two years.