A prolific burglar was jailed for five years and nine months after a judge said he could easily have killed someone in a high-speed police chase.

Ian Smith, 29, was being pursued in a car he had taken in a burglary at a house in Luton when he lost control as he tried to turn into Alton Road from Park Street.

He hit a parked car, which was pushed forward into another vehicle that struck a flat bed lorry, which was knocked into a wall.

Smith fled but was arrested nearby, Luton Crown Court heard.

Smith of Kingsland Court, Kingsland Road, Luton, pleaded guilty to two burglaries and one offence of dangerous driving.

He had ten previous burglary convictions and two previous convictions for dangerous driving.

Prosecutor Christopher Draycott said the first burglary happened in Cutenhoe Road, Luton, overnight on March 8 while a woman and her daughter were asleep.

Smith took car keys and a handbag before driving off in a Corsa that was parked outside.

Then, during the daytime on March 27, he carried out an audacious burglary in Hillary Crescent.

He got into a house while a husband was out in the garden and the wife upstairs.

He took car keys and a wallet from a sofa and left in the couple’s silver Astra.

Mr Draycott said PC Mark Casey had spotted the Astra in West Hill Road and went off in pursuit as he saw it drive away.

He said: “It accelerated so harshly it went into a wheel spin and then suddenly braked.

The police car followed as the Astra went at speeds of up to 70mph and it left the ground as it went over speed humps in Park Street.” When he tried to turn into Alton Road he hit the kerb and lost control.

Stuart Sprawson, defending, said Smith was addicted to crack cocaine and accepted his responsibility for the crimes.

Jailing him, Judge Michael Kay QC said: “You are the sort of person who is a nightmare of the roads. If you continue this sort of driving one day you will kill someone."

He jailed him for a total of four-and-a-half years and a further 15 months for the dangerous driving.

He was banned from driving for four years and must take an extended retest.