Witham DJ 'Disco' Dave Leslie foiled a daring theft after chasing a thief who tried to make off with his trailer full of expensive records.

It was a case of once bitten twice shy for Dave who last year had his trailer and gear - worth £20,000 - stolen in a carbon copy attack.

Dave, who works at a Hatfield Road garage, this time woke up as an intruder towed away his trailer, filled with new equipment worth £20,000, outside his home in The Green, Hatfield Peverel at 4.30am, last Friday.

"There was a crash as my motorbike fell over," he said.

"The thief had not noticed the alarm wire went round both the trailer and the motorbike.

"I shot down the stairs barefooted, and wearing only my jogging bottoms. I jumped into my car and chased after him.

"He couldn't go very fast because I had locked the tow bar and he had chained the front of the trailer to the back of his old Montego estate.

"It was swinging from side to side in the road. I screeched across in front of him and leaped out.

"He took one look at me - half naked, 20 stone, 6ft 5ins inches tall and mad as hell - and took off down the road like a scalded cat, yelling abuse.

"The police hunted the fleeing driver with dogs and a helicopter but he managed to escape. "I was furious," admitted Dave.

The man who escaped was said to be a stockily-built, about 40 years old, 5ft 8ins tall with an Eastern European appearance.

He wore jeans and a dark windcheater.Anyone with information should contact Witham police station on 01376 501212.

Published Thursday, May 22, 2003

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