A CRASHED stolen van driver caught after his DNA was found on an airbag has been jailed for 20 months.

Bolton Crown Court heard how 21-year-old William Bates was involved in a series of crimes including burglary, driving offences and handling a stolen car over a three month period last year.

Rachel White, prosecuting, told how police spotted a stolen Vauxhall van in Plodder Lane, Farnworth, at 2pm on August 7 after members of the public reported it acting suspiciously.

The vehicle has been stolen four days earlier whilst being unloaded in Bolton Road.

After seeing it on Plodder Lane, police pursued the van, which was driven around residential streets at speeds of up to 70mph, ignoring speed bumps on Highfield Road, almost colliding with two cyclists and other cars and careering through red traffic lights.

At traffic lights on Bolton Road the van hit a Toyota Avensis taxi and shunting it into an Astra before the van went out of control and smashed into railings.

The taxi was badly damaged and the £7,000 van was written off with the driver, Bates, running off but leaving his DNA behind.

Bates, of Peabody Street, Bolton, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving and having no licence or insurance.

Miss White added that on September 20 Bates was caught in a stolen Audi car, stopped by police using a stinger after they spotted it on the M61.

The car had been taken a week earlier following a burglary at a house in Breightmet and was bearing stolen number plates.

Bates admitted handling a stolen vehicle and stolen number plates and whilst on bail for the offence, on November 3, was caught being part of a gang burgling a house in Clarke Street, Bolton and subsequently pleaded guilty to burglary.

Mark Friend, defending, said Bates, who had a previous criminal record, had been making good progress in turning his life around until getting involved in his latest offences.

“It seems he rather slipped back into his old ways,” said Mr Friend.

Recorder Peter Birkett QC told Bates: “You are a young man with a long record and it is getting longer. I am afraid there is no alternative but to impose a further custodial sentence.”

Bates was jailed for 20 months and banned from driving for three years, after which he will have to sit an extended test.