110mph police chase burglar who smashed through M6 Toll barrier is jailed

Don Milligan smashed through a toll booth barrier, accelerated to 110mph and undertook traffic using the hard shoulder at 90mph.

Police started to pursue a Peugeot driven by Milligan after it was stolen in a car-key burglary in Heath Hayes.

The police had to abandon the pursuit because it was too dangerous, but a police helicopter had seen Milligan abandon the car on a service area and run off.

He was found hiding under some tarpaulin and was arrested.

Milligan, aged 30, of Cherry Tree Road, Norton Canes, admitted charges of burglary, driving while disqualified and dangerous driving.

He asked for one other offence of burglary to be considered. Judge Paul Glenn told him: "You are a persistent burglar. You went out that night intending to steal.

"You have shown little or no inclination to change your ways.

"You drove in a highly dangerous and reckless manner designed to evade arrest."

The court heard that the defendant had a string of previous convictions for house burglaries and was out on licence from his last four year term imposed in 2011 when he committed these offences.

Mr Hugh O'Brien-Quinn, prosecuting, said the burglary was in Hednesford Road, Heath Hayes.

The householder was woken up at around 5am on August 19 to see her Peugeot being driven up the road.

It was spotted by the toll road camera about an hour later after Milligan joined the toll at Cannock.

Milligan also asked to be taken into consideration a burglary of a house in Burntwood in which he stole jewellery belonging to the householder's deceased husband.

He was jailed for five years and eight months.

Miss Sarah Buckingham, defending, said: "This is a man who has never grown up, who finds prison easier than on the outside.

"Although the victim's home had been invaded, there was no ransacking of the premises, he had slipped in to the house, taken the keys and the car.

"His intention was to return to Scotland."