A CAREER criminal who stole a Mercedes after breaking into a Colchester car wash proceeded to lead police on a 110mph car chase.
Daniel Stewart, 22, had burgled Mr Suds Car Wash in Stanway when he stole the sports car at 11.45pm on Monday, July 1.
He had been released from prison on licence one day earlier having previously been jailed for burglary and theft.
As Stewart drove towards London from Colchester, police officers on the A13 noticed Stewart driving the car and tried to pull him over, only for him to lead them on a high-speed chase which provoked the Metropolitan Police to monitor the pursuit.
As the incident went on, Stewart ran red lights and drove the wrong way around roundabouts in an attempt to lose officers.
The chase finally ended when Stewart, who is married and a father to a three-year-old child, hit a cyclist and came to a stop.
The cyclist was uninjured and Stewart was arrested, but he refused to provide a specimen for analysis.
He appeared before Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday via a video link from HMP Chelmsford, where he has been on remand since the offence.
The defendant, of Hornchurch Road, Hornchurch, admitted burglary, aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, failing to provide a specimen for analysis, driving without a licence, driving without insurance, and theft of a motor vehicle.
Katherine Higgs, mitigating, argued Stewart did not plan on stealing the car.
She said: “It’s a case of the defendant being there, seeing an opportunity, and taking the opportunity.”
She added Stewart had a “complex background” having been born to the travelling community before being taken into care.
“He tells me this time being in custody has been a real wake-up call for him – he has seen some difficult things during the time he has been in custody," she said.
“He wants to move on forward with his life and get back on track."
Judge David Pugh said Stewart’s record of 12 convictions for 22 offences was a reason the defendant received a prison term.
He added Stewart caused “potentially huge risk” to other road users during the pursuit.
Stewart was jailed for two years and banned from driving for three years.
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