A CAREER burglar who smashed into two police vehicles in a stolen car then soared three feet into the air during a pursuit through Sheffield city centre has been locked up for four years.
Andrew Baggaley, aged 30, rammed a police vehicle parked in front of him then reversed into one behind as officers tried to box him in outside the Penny Black pub in Sheffield city centre.
Baggaley, who was driving a Skoda Octavia he’d stolen during a break-in at a house in Richmond Road, Handsworth, sped off with the police in pursuit.
David Wain, prosecuting at Sheffield Crown Court said he drove down Pond Hill but failed to squeeze between three stationary cars at the traffic lights causing a smash which saw him soar three feet into the air.
Baggaley was travelling at about 40mph when he crashed causing the other three cars to collide and go on to the footpath.
Baggaley, of Aughton Drive, Woodthorpe, was arrested but while on bail broke into a house in Greenhill on October 12 while the householder was at work.
He was carrying a Stanley knife and he and another man were seen leaving with a holdall.
A witness gave chase and the man holding the bag dropped it and ran off, while Baggaley escaped in a rented car.
Its registration was taken down by the quick-thinking witness and Baggaley was arrested when he returned the car the next day.
A laptop, computer games and foreign currency were all recovered from the holdall.
Mr Wain said police were monitoring Baggaley after a door was smashed at a house on Richmond Road and the Skoda keys, a laptop, camera, safe and electrical goods worth £3,490 were stolen.
Baggaley admitted two burglaries, possessing a knife, taking a car without consent, dangerous driving and no insurance.
He had a string of previous convictions for burglary, going back to 2000 when he was 18.
He had committed a string of break-ins until he was jailed for four years in 2005.
James Gould, defending, said while in prison Baggaley had gained qualifications and found a job but had since started using drugs again.
Judge Paul Watson QC told him: “You took a crazy manoeuvre and it’s a wonder the consequences were no more dramatic than damage to the vehicles.”