by Keith Hunt

A drug addict who stole a car and then filled it with stolen property has been jailed for three years.

James Inglis and the other man fled from police in the Citroen Saxo but ended up crashing and writing it off.

A judge told father-to-be Inglis on Tuesday: “You did all that with no thought for anybody but yourselves.”

The 34-year-old, of Poulsen Court, Sittingbourne, admitted two offences of burglary and one of aggravated vehicle taking.

Prosecutor Keith Yardy said Christopher Coomber reported his car stolen from the Rose and Crown pub in Tonbridge, where he worked, after his keys were taken from the staff room on April 27 this year.

Around the same time, Hadlow Manor Hotel in Hadlow was burgled and chef James Cannell had £16,000 worth of property taken. Only half had been recovered.

Mr Yardy told Maidstone Crown Court police officers saw the stolen car, with the second man driving, travelling towards Maidstone. They followed and the car turned off towards Cuxton.

“The pursuit lasted about 15 minutes,” said Mr Yardy. “The car travelled at excessive speed, activating several speed cameras and causing other motorists to take avoiding action.”

It shot through red traffic lights as it headed for Sittingbourne and finally crashed into bollards in a residential area.

The two men ran off but were arrested. The other man has not yet been sentenced.

Mr Yardy said Inglis had previous convictions for burglary and had served a five-year sentence for robbery.

Judge Charles Byers said Inglis had been dealt with leniently in the past and probably had not previously been punished enough.

“You stole a vast amount of somebody else’s property, no doubt equipment they had worked hard to accrue,” he said.

“When challenged by police, you and your accomplice drove off at high speed and great danger to the public, culminating in writing off a car, again that somebody was no doubt proud of and they had worked hard in order to achieve.

“You did all that with no thought for them, no thought for anybody else but yourselves.”

Banning Inglis from driving for three years, the judge added he was impressed he had decided at last to give up drugs.

Graeme Wilson, defending, said the burglaries were not planned and it was “taking an opportunity”.

“He has finally turned a corner and realises this cannot go on,” said Mr Wilson. “He is making strides in prison.

“It is clear he has offended to fund his alcohol and drug problem. His wife is six months pregnant with their first child.”