Milton Keynes man who has committed 65 offences cries as he is given prison sentence

David Blake, 38, hurtled down 30mph residential roads in MK at such speed that his car overturned, an Aylesbury Crown Court heard today (Tuesday).

Blake, of no fixed abode, could be seen wiping tears away from his eyes as he was told he would be jailed for 16 months and disqualified from driving for three years.

Judge Francis Sheridan comforted him, telling him that he was "one of life's unfortunates."

The judge had listened to an account of Blake's dangerous driving spree, which happened in February - days after Blake had been released from prison for another offence.

Police had started pursuing him when the car he was driving flagged up as having no MOT and no insurance. But when the defendant realised a squad car was tailing him he began building speed through residential roads.

He left the main road of Watling Street to drive along residential roads, before mounting the kerb onto a redway, potentially putting pedestrians and cyclists in danger.

His car crashed and overturned and he then fled on foot, the court heard.

Police tracked him down with the help of a sniffer dog and arrested him.

Blake admitted a charge of dangerous driving and driving without a licence or insurance. He appeared in court via video link from remand at HMP Bullingdon in Bicester.

Judge Sherdian told him: "In some ways you are one of life's unfortunates and I make no bones about that, but the other side of it is you have never done much in your life to help yourself.

"You have a very poor record, going back a long, long time. You were on licence for four days before this offence. You left the car crashed on its side, indicating the very great speed and the lunacy with which you were driving."

A lawyer defending Blake had told how the defendant had started abusing drugs following the death of his mother and had become homeless after being released from prison.

Judge Sheridan said: "It is, in many ways, a compassionate sentence, it could have been far longer. The consequences of this awful driving could have been far worse. If you had hit anybody you would have hurt them, if not killed them and the family would not have been able through the insurance, to treat them.

"Look, Mr Blake, it is up to you now. You are at rock bottom. There is a charity that works within the prisons called New Leaf. Ask your probation officer to put you in touch with them. If you say it was Aylesbury that pointed you in their direction, they might do something to try to help you upon your release."