A CAR thief with 236 convictions has been jailed after leading police on a chase in a stolen high-performance sports car.

Kevin Melody, 39, overtook a car and drove through a red light when he realised police were in pursuit, Burnley Crown Court heard.

He had been under the influence of drugs and carried on taking them after he stole a Mazda MX5 from a house in the town.

Melody has never held a driving licence, was on a suspended sentence at the time and had spent much of his life going in and out of jail, the court heard.

The defendant had written the judge who was to sentence him a letter.

Recorder Nick Clarke, QC, who read it, said it was very well put together and showed good use of language and rhetoric. He told the defendant: "It shows you are a man with intelligence and it's a great shame you can't put it to better use, because you do have talents."

The defendant, of Mowgrain View, Bacup, had admitted aggravated vehicle taking in February, in breach of the suspended term, imposed last December, for a number of offences. He was jailed for 16 months.

He had been committed for sentence by magistrates. He was banned for a year and must take an extended driving test.

The hearing was told the defendant was caught by camera at about 6.30am. The car was not reported stolen until about 7.30am.

A police officer spotted him driving past at about 8am, followed him and when Melody realised police were behind, he went through the red light to try to get away. He then drove off around a corner and tried to run off. The defendant discarded some of his 'car breaking kit' and the rest of it was on him when he was detained.

Tim Storrie, for Melody, said he had taken the car only thinking of himself, but had been having an emotional crisis.

He was desperate to get back to Somerset to see his mother and sister. He had lived there quietly in 2008 after coming out of custody.