A PROLIFIC Ellesmere Port thief who stole a car after stealing the keys from the owner's home has been jailed for four years.

Steven Prior, 42, of Moorcroft Road, who had 52 previous convictions for 227 offences, pleaded guilty to burglary, two thefts, interfering with a vehicle and disqualified driving a couple of weeks before his trial was due to start at Chester Crown Court.

Appearing at Chester Crown Court via videolink from HMP Altcourse on Friday, September 4, Prior was jailed for four years and banned from driving for two years upon his eventual release from custody.

Prosecuting, Andrew McGuinness said all the offending happened between March 30-31.

At 8pm on Fluin Lane, Frodsham, a resident saw Prior had been acting suspiciously after reviewing home camera footage showing the defendant in the driveway, trying to open the door on a Land Rover Discovery.

Later, in Queensway, Frodsham, Prior broke into a house to steal keys to a car which he then drove off in, and the vehicle was spotted in Ellesmere Port the following day.

When that car was recovered, a watch and a pair of trainers which had been in the car were not found.

Prior then stole the keys to a Range Rover Evoque at a used car and van dealership in Ellesmere Port on March 31.

A customer had dropped off the vehicle and the keys had been kept in a portable building, but Prior had stolen the keys from there and was trying them out on vehicles at the dealership before being approached by a member of staff.

Prior said he was interested in one of the cars before leaving te dealership.

The keys, valued at £800, were not recovered.

In victim impact statements, the owner of the dealership said the crime had had an effect on his small business, with damage to its reputation, and had to pay £800 for new keys.

The victim of the burglary said while it was inconvenient for them not to have a car for a few days before it was recovered, the bigger effect was someone breaking into their home.

It had meant their young daughter did not want to sleep alone any more, for fear the intruder could come back.

Prior had been offending since 1992, with 69 theft offences on his record and numerous counts of aggravated vehicle taking.

Defending, Myles Wilson said Prior had spent only one month out of the past 20 outside of prison, though accepted that was his own fault.

Prior had left school at the age of 11 and that was where life had taken a wrong turn.

He added: "At 42, I think the penny is beginning to drop. He has missed important events with his family while in prison. he is cut off from real life."

Prior, who appeared on videolink with his right eye closed, had also been the victim of several assaults, including one involving a hammer, and was awaiting surgery on it, the court heard.

He also had PTSD as a result of the attacks, and depression.

Judge Simon Berkson told Prior: "The most serious offence was the burglary, and you know, from the victim personal statements, the effect it had on the people living at that address.

"You are a person with numerous previous criminal convictions."