A CRIMINAL with a history of thefts and car crime has been jailed after he was caught riding in a stolen Audi during a police chase.

Bolton Crown Court heard how 21-year-old Aidan Doherty had a knife in his pocket when police grabbed hold of him as he tried to run from the car.

Niamh Ingham, prosecuting told how the Audi A4 was stolen in a burglary on February 19 when thieves broke into a house during the night and stole keys from the owner's bag.

A tracker on the car alerted police and five days later, at 10pm, officers found it in Inverary Avenue, Blackrod.

"The occupants of the Audi were attempting to steal another vehicle from that location," said Miss Ingham, who stressed that Doherty was not charged with involvement in the theft.

The Audi drove off, with a police helicopter keeping watch overhead as officers pursued it.

The court heard that the car was speeding and being driven dangerously.

"At one point the Audi seemed to pull over onto the pavement , but then reversed and collided with the front of the police vehicle.

A short time later the car stopped and the three people inside ran off.

Doherty, who clambered out of a nearside door, was caught and in his pockets officers found a key to the Audi and an eight inch folding knife.

Doherty, of Parkfield Road, Great Lever, pleaded guilty to allowing himself to be carried in a stolen car which was driven dangerously and possessing a knife.

The court heard that at the time he was on licence from an attempted burglary sentence and has previous convictions for car crime.

Kevin Liston, defending, stressed that there is no suggestion Doherty had been involved in stealing the Audi and the mechanic has no previous convictions for carrying knives.

Jailing Doherty for 10 months and banning him from driving for two years and five months, Judge John Edwards told him him he was "plainly not without potential" but the offence is so serious that he must go to prison immediately.

"These are serious offences and they mark an escalation in your offending," he told him.

"I see that you want to better yourself and not waste your time going in and out of custody for offending which, quite frankly, you should have grown out of by now."