Car thief reached 115mph during police chase

A car thief who drove a stolen BMW at speeds of up to 115mph (185km/h) during a police pursuit has been jailed.

Benjamin Tindall, 23, jumped into the car after it was left running by its owner outside a newsagent on Seacroft Road, Mablethorpe, shortly before 07:30 BST on 5 October.

Tindall, who Lincoln Crown Court heard had driven at speed past a primary school, was jailed for 16 months earlier.

He was also banned from driving for three years.

The court heard officers had spotted the vehicle travelling towards Partney, and then along the A16 to Keal Cotes.

David Eager, prosecuting, said the BMW had passed through the village of Stickford, before being pursued along a fen road towards Midville.

"At that point the police car was doing 100mph and the BMW was still moving away," Mr Eager said.

"On Midville Road, it reached 115mph and was still doing high speeds when it went through a 30mph zone near New Leake Primary School," he added.

The court heard the pursuit only came to an end when Tindall crashed into a tree.

A roadside test found Tindall to be over the drink-drive limit, as well as testing positive for cocaine and cannabis.

Tindall, of no fixed address, was already on bail after previously being arrested in Lincoln on 15 August.

On that occasion, Tindall refused to give a specimen of breath or blood sample after he was seen walking near a car which had been taken from an address in Nottingham.

Tindall, of no fixed address, admitted offences of aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, failing to provide a specimen and possessing cannabis.

Passing sentence, Judge Simon Hirst told the defendant he had a "terrible record", and had taken advantage of the situation when the owner of the BMW left his car running.

"He left the keys in the ignition, came out of the shop and the car was gone," he said.

"You were driving well above 100mph. You drove past New Leake Primary School without slowing down," the judge added.

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