A burglar caught after a driving chase in Leeds has been jailed for five years after a judge said he had a “truly appalling” record.
Jailing Graham Paul Adair at Leeds Crown Court, Judge Tom Bayliss QC told him that with nine previous appearances for burglary “over the years you appear to have made burglary a career.”
Robert Galley, prosecuting, said an off-duty policeman on his way home spotted Adair driving a Vauxhall Corsa car in the early hours of November 10 in Oakwood and was immediately suspicious because it appeared to have a door open.
In fact Adair, who had been drinking, had just taken the car from outside a house in Montagu Crescent after getting the keys in a burglary.
The officer pulled up behind Adair and got out to speak to him but then had to jump out of the way as Adair reversed the car back into his vehicle, before doing a three-point turn to escape, scraping down the side of the officer’s car and taking off his wing mirror before driving off.
A police van was passing and immediately began to pursue the Corsa and was joined by another police vehicle, a 4x4 BMW as Adair drove along Easterly Road and through a give way without stopping, onto the wrong side of the road.
He reached speeds up to 47mph along Amberton Road and Foundry Approach before turning into Harehills Park Terrace where he was boxed in. He scrambled over the bonnet to escape only to be chased and caught, said Mr Galley.
Adair, 34, of Oak Tree Walk, Gipton, admitted burglary, aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving and with excess alcohol. He also asked for 16 other offences to be taken into consideration.
Jailing him, Judge Bayliss said burglaries affected the whole community. “More burglaries are committed in Leeds than in any other local authority area. In parts of Leeds the burglary rate is six times the national average.”