A NEW neighbour stole a family's car after they invited him into their home to welcome him to the area — and was later involved in a high-speed police chase which ended in Stoke.

Thief Brian Brough stole car keys from the home in Morris Green after neighbour Robert Rudd invited the 28-year-old and his family round for drinks in February this year, a court heard.

Brough returned three days later and stole the car — a silver Peugeot 407.

Mr Rudd reported the theft to police and two days later, on March 4 at 8.30pm, officers spotted the car in the Old Trafford area of Manchester.

They followed Brough, who had a male passenger and a 15-year-old boy in the car, until he drove onto the M602, where he began to reach speeds in excess of 100mph.

CCTV footage played during the hearing at Bolton Crown Court showed officers keeping their distance from Brough, who swerved through traffic, undertook cars at high speed on the hard shoulder, and drove at 120mph on stretches of unlit motorway.

The high-speed pursuit saw him drive on the M602, the M62 and the M6 before leaving the motorway at Stoke, at which point officers from Staffordshire Police had taken up the chase.

Brough continued flee police,driving at high speeds in residential areas, before hitting a dead end.

He was arrested and breathalysed by officers, who found he was over the drink drive limit.

The father-of-two was also found to be driving while disqualified and without insurance.

The 28-year-old was sentenced to 22 months in prison.

The court heard he will miss the birth of his third child, which is expected to be born on Monday.

Recorder Mark Ainsworth said: “You and your partner have two young children, and you are expecting your third child together next week.

“It is therefore tragic that you find yourself in this situation.

“Mr Rudd was kind enough as to invite you round to his house.

“But in a serious breach of trust, you stole his car keys.

“It is clear that throughout the incident, your driving placed danger on yourself, it placed danger on other road users, it placed danger on police officers and it placed danger on the passengers in your car, including a 15-year-old boy.”

Brough pleaded guilty to drink driving, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance, stealing car keys and taking a vehicle without the consent of its owner.

He was banned from driving for five years and will only regain his licence after completing an extended test.