A man released from prison with a driver’s license stole a car after around 18 hours, a court heard.
Darren Gray was released on custody and went to a hostel, heard the Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday (November 9th).
But after going out he woke up near Bristol and was supposed to drive a stolen Fiat Abarth back into town.
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When the police called to find the missing vehicle and tried to overtake him, he led them on a short high-speed chase before they crashed.
Gray, 47, of Logos House on Wade Street, Bristol, confessed to guilty of dangerous driving while disqualified and uninsured and guilty of theft.
The court was told that he had 53 criminal records for 170 offenses, including several traffic offenses.
The recorder Mr. James Bromige imprisoned him for 18 months and banned him from driving for four years and nine months.
He said to Gray: “You are what you can only call a serial offender.”
Prosecutor Joseph Broadway said Fiat owner Karl Bowen reported the car missing early October 9, and police tracked Gray as he drove it to Bristol Airport.
When police activated their blue lights, Gray was spotted on the 50 mph A38 at about 90 mph and seen on the wrong side of the road, forced a bus to brake and skipped a red light.
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After exceeding a top speed of 30 mph at 80 mph, he tried to go the wrong way on a roundabout, crossed the curb, and toppled the car at about 60 mph.
Gray was then arrested, admitted to driving the car but denied stealing it.
He told the police: “I’m not afraid, I’m going to jail anyway.”
Daniel Woodman, who defended himself, said he had represented Gray before.
But he told the court: “This is the first time he has spoken to me by saying ‘I’ve had enough’.”
Mr Woodman said his client was asked to take a car to Bristol and foolishly agreed to do so.
The court was told to make good use of his time in detention, take courses, come out and start over.
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