Drunk car thief jailed after 115mph police chase past school
A drunk car thief who hit speeds of up to 115mph during a police chase after stealing a BMW from outside a newsagents was jailed for 16 months.
Benjamin Tindall, 23, jumped into the vehicle after it was left running by the owner in Seacroft Road, Mablethorpe, at around 7.25am on 5 October.
Lincoln Crown Court heard the owner of the BMW 5 series came back to find his car had gone.
David Eager, prosecuting, told the court: "The defendant clearly saw a gift horse and took it."
The court heard police saw the vehicle travelling towards Partney and then along the A16 to Keal Cotes.
Mr Eager said the BMW was spotted driving at 90mph through the village of Stickford and then pursued along a fen road towards Midville.
"At that point the police car was doing 100mph and the BMW was still moving away," Mr Eager explained.
"On Midville Road it reached 115mph and was still doing high speeds when it went through a 30mph zone near New Leake Primary School."
Mr Eager said the pursuit only came to an end when Tindall crashed into a tree. He was found laid down in a nearby field.
A roadside test put Tindall over the drink-drive limit and he also tested positive for cocaine and cannabis.
The court heard Tindall was also on bail after previously being arrested in Carholme Road, Lincoln, on 15 August.
On that occasion Tindall refused to give a specimen of breath or blood sample after he was seen walking near a car which had been taken from an address in Nottingham.
Tindall, of no fixed address, admitted offences of aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, failing to provide a specimen and posessing cannabis.
Neil Sands, defending, said Tindall's best mitigation was his early guilty pleas.
Passing sentence Judge Simon Hirst told Tindall he had a "terrible record" and saw an opportunity when the owner of the BMW left his car running.
"He left the keys in the ignition, came out of the shop and the car was gone," Judge Hirst explained.
Judge Hirst added: "You were driving well above 100mph. You drove past New Leake Primary School without slowing down."
Tindall was also banned from driving for three years and must take an extended retest.