A burglar who drove at lunatic speeds of more than 120mph while being chased by police has been jailed.

At Mold Crown Court today, Michael Darren Hannan was convicted of burglary at Tan y Bryn in Sychdyn near Mold in February last year and of stealing a VW Polo GTi from outside.

The 26-year-old, who was said to have an appalling record, was jailed for a total of four years, including a six-month sentence for dangerous driving.

Judge David Hale said Hannan reached speeds of 122mph in another stolen car while he was being chased by police.

The judge paid tribute to the professionalism of the police officers who boxed Hannan in on a slip road at Queensferry and brought him to a controlled stop.

The defendant, of Dwellyhouse Lane, Norris Green, Liverpool, denied another burglary at Kiln Close in Buckley and stealing a Mini Cooper from the driveway outside.

He was cleared of those charges when the prosecution offered no evidence against him.

But he admitted driving the Mini without consent the one he was later arrested in following the chase from Sealand Road to the Queensferry interchange.

Prosecuting barrister Ffion Thomas said the owner of the Polo arrived home on the evening of February 22 and parked her car outside.

When her husband later arrived home, it was discovered the car had been taken along with the keys which had been on the kitchen worktop.

Evidence from ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) showed the Mini Cooper, which had been stolen earlier, was being driven in the Flintshire area with false number plates at the time of the Sychdyn burglary.

Cell site evidence showed Hannans mobile phone was pinging off masts in the area at the time.

The following day, the stolen Mini was seen in Sealand Road and, following a high-speed chase, the defendant and two passengers were arrested at Queensferry.

A month later, the stolen Polo was found in Blacon near Chester, and Hannans DNA was found on the handbrake and the gear stick.

Hannan denied being involved in the burglary or theft of the car, but said he had been paid to take others on a shoplifting expedition in North Wales.

That was why his DNA was in the vehicle, he said.

Defending barrister Ben Morris said there was no direct evidence his client was involved in the Sychdyn burglary.

No charges had been brought against his two passengers, although they were in the same situation, he said.

Judge Hale told Hannan, who had previous convictions for house burglary, robbery and attempted robbery, that he had set his sights on a life of being up to no good.

In addition to the prison sentence, Hannan was banned from driving for two years and ordered to take an extended driving test.

In a victim impact statement, the owner of the stolen Polo said she and her husband had travelled around the area trying to find it after the burglary.

The burglary had had made her tearful and jumpy and, when her husband had been away for a weekend, she had been unable to sleep for fear that the burglars would return, she said.

Following the sentencing, DC Chris Connah of the Burglary Action Team at Mold police station said: When an individual commits a domestic burglary, invades your home and steals property that is either sentimental, valuable or both, it is not uncommon for victims to feel violated.

It is therefore reassuring and welcoming that the criminal justice system shares our concern and imposes custodial sentences on those few in our communities intent on disrupting and disregarding the lives of others.

I welcome the sentence and hope it will provide our local communities with the firm reassurance that North Wales Police will relentlessly pursue those individuals who break the law.

Original post:

Burglar in 'lunatic' Flintshire police chase jailed - Daily Post North Wales