Doncaster burglar led cops on high-speed chase

Billy Askin found house keys in an unlocked VW Golf parked outside an address on St Mary's Drive, Dunsville, just after midnight on October 21, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

He went inside and took a handbag, containing cash and bank cards, then drove off in the VW with "tyres screeching," said prosecutor Brian Outhwaite.

Police spotted him at 1.25am on Centenary Way, Rotherham, and followed him on to Wentworth Road, where he undertook another police car at "excessive speed" and drove on the wrong side of the road.

Askin clipped the kerb, separating one of the tyres from the wheel, but continued on to Recreation Road, where he was blocked and arrested.

A 16-year-old girl was in the car at the time, and a knuckle-duster was found on him, said Mr Outhwaite.

In a statement, the car's owner said: "We have been worried that they might come back. My wife no longer feels safe in her home where she has lived for 30 years. She has fought cancer on four occasions and is still receiving treatment."

The court heard Askin was "relatively lightly convicted", but received two months in a young offenders' institution for taking a car without the owner's consent.

Dale Harris, for Askin, said his early guilty plea, his age and his lack of maturity were his main mitigation.

"He had no appropriate direction in his teenage years, and has drifted from petty offending to serious offending."

Slater, 20, of Station Road, Dunscroft, Doncaster, was convicted of aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, driving without insurance or a licence, possession of an offensive, and dwelling burglary at the magistrates' court, on October 22.

On Friday, Judge Michael Slater told him: "The victims had their own problems and this was the last thing they needed."

He handed Askin two years and three months in a young offenders' institution. Askin was also banned for 24 months and must take an extended test before he drives again.