A burglar who tried to outrun police on two occasions has been jailed for a string of offences. James Clarke was arrested on June 17 and July 25 this year in similar circumstances.
In a bid to escape police, he led them on a 60mph chase through narrow streets in Kirkby-in-Ashfield after officers received information he was wanted in relation to burglaries in Derbyshire. During the pursuit, he hurtled over speed bumps, weaved in and out of traffic at high speeds and went through a red light, causing other vehicles to take evasive action, Nottinghamshire Police said.
He abandoned the white Audi in Main Road, Ravenshead, and was detained by officers as he tried to scale a fence. The 41-year-old was taken into custody and later bailed while the investigation into the Derbyshire burglaries continued.
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Five weeks later, he was arrested again. This time, the occupants of a house in Stoneleigh Close, Mansfield, rang 999 after they heard noises downstairs before seeing an intruder drive off in their car, also a white Audi.
Officers went looking for the car and spotted it minutes later in Westfield Lane, with Clarke at the wheel. Again, Clarke failed to stop but this time the pursuit was over in seconds. In a bid to escape, he reversed the car into parked cars and a garden wall, before getting out and running down the street.
An officer chased after him and detained him a short time later. A stolen iPad and handbag were found in the car.
Clarke, of no fixed address, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday, November 2, having pleaded guilty to burglary, two counts of dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle taking. He was jailed for three years and banned from driving for 30 months.
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable David Smith said: “Clarke’s mindless behaviour could have had fatal consequences. On both occasions, it was a foolish attempt to evade capture and our officers did a fantastic job to arrest him without anyone being seriously hurt.
“Burglary, theft of a car and driving offences are taken very seriously by Nottinghamshire Police and we will always take appropriate action against those found to be committing such offences.”
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