A BURGLAR who stole a Porsche from outside a house in a village near York and was caught after a police chase, has been jailed for nine years.

Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday David Michael Cuskin had only been released from prison in June this year and was on licence when he committed a series of burglaries at properties in Grimsby, Leeds and Harrogate stealing more than £150,000 worth of property.

But he was caught after his offence on September 3 at a house in the village of Catterton between York and Tadcaster. The householder had a device on his mobile phone which alerted him if his alarm was activated.

Nigel Wray prosecuting said around 5.15pm that man was notified that had happened and returned home to find muddy footprints inside the property and that all the rooms had been searched.

A small safe and jewellery had been stolen along with the keys to the Porsche 911 which had been taken from outside the property.

He alerted the police and the description and registration of the vehicle was circulated and police officers spotted it some time later in the Belle Isle area of Leeds.

The driver failed to stop and it drove the wrong way round a roundabout when police began to pursue him.

He drove straight across the grassed area of another roundabout and because of the dangerous driving a decision was taken to ram the Porsche.

Mr Wray said that was done and in the process one of the rear wheels of the Porsche was dislodged. It briefly continued on three wheels but was eventually boxed in by police vehicles.

Cuskin of no fixed address was then arrested and in a bag around his waist officers found a key to a Vauxhall Corsa car stolen in an earlier burglary in Leeds in August where the occupants returned to find their fridge, sofa and tumble dryer among the property stolen.

The 34-year-old was to have been sentenced over a video link to HMP Leeds having admitted five burglaries, stealing two cars and dangerous driving, but minutes after the hearing began he walked out of the room at the prison end and refused to return.

Jailing him for a total of nine years in his absence Judge James Spencer QC said he already had 29 offences of house burglary on his record and was only released from his last 38 month sentence in June.

“I have no hesitation in describing this man as a professional burglar. His pattern of offending establishes beyond any doubt that he is a great danger to the public, he is indiscriminate in what he steals.”

The judge said Cuskin had no consideration for the impact on his victims whose homes he violates stealing anything from items of sentimental value to children’s presents. “The time has come to lock him away for a long time.”

In addition to the jail term Cuskin was banned from driving for five and a half years.

Craig Sutcliffe representing Cuskin said he was affected by drugs at the time he was caught and was now determined to use his time in custody wisely to improve his life and study for a degree.