A CAREER crook carried out his 25th burglary, stole a car and led police on a chase as he clocked up twice the speed limit, a court heard.

Aaron Moss, 23, of Beech Street, Padiham, who has 70 offences on a criminal record which started in 2004 when he was 13, struck while his victim was asleep.

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He took off in a stolen Nissan Micra going over a bridge with all four wheels leaving the road.

Moss was eventually found hiding, after he abandoned the Micra Burnley Crown Court was told.

Moss, a ‘three strike’ home attacker, facing a minimum of three years for the break-in alone, admitted burglary, aggravated vehicle taking, no insurance and no licence, on September 9.

He was locked up for four years eight months, banned from driving for five years and must take an extended retest.

Prosecutor Joseph Allman said the victim David Atkinson was asleep at his home on Altham Street, Padiham. He awoke at 10am to find his property had been raided.

The back door was open, but it appeared the thief had got in through a window. Two laptops were missing as well as a digital camera and the keys for the Micra. The total loss to the victim was £3,212.

Mr Allman said at 9.53pm the next day, the car was seen by a police patrol on Liverpool Road, Burnley and officers started a pursuit.

Moss reached speeds in excess of 50mph on 30mph Rosegrove Lane and at one stage accelerated to 60mph. At one point, all wheels of the vehicle left the road as the defendant went over a bridge.

The police stopped the pursuit on Padiham Road when it became apparent it wasn't safe to continue. The prosecutor continued: “They could see the Micra in the distance, overtaking cars on the wrong side of the road until it finally disappeared from view.”

Mr Allman said the Micra was found abandoned with damage to a tyre. A passenger got out and was arrested a short distance away. Moss was found hiding under a bridge. The defendant made no comment when he was questioned.

The prosecutor added Moss had 11 previous offences of burglary, 10 were house raids and 14 offences, all house burglaries, had been taken into consideration.