A BURGLAR who was chased by a police helicopter after stealing a car from a secluded farmhouse has been jailed for two years.
Callum Wilson was followed by the helicopter after police were alerted by a tracking device in the Mercedes car, which was stolen from an isolated property in Osgodby, near Market Rasen.
The vehicle was taken during a classic "Hanoi-style burglary" in which Wilson entered the house while the occupiers slept and quickly fled with the car keys, Lincoln Crown Court heard.
Wilson, 27, formerly of Rutland Street, Grimsby, also took a handbag from the lounge before escaping, but left behind some jewellery which was on show.
Philip Howes, prosecuting, said: "Essentially this was a quick in-and-out burglary to get the car keys.
"Entry was gained through an unsecured patio door."
By the time the occupiers realised they had been burgled the following morning, Wilson had changed the number plates on the car.
But a tracking device fitted inside allowed police to locate it in the North Cotes area.
"The car was tracked by the Humberside Police helicopter from North Cotes to Grainthorpe and Marshchapel where it was chased by a police car," said Mr Howes.
"When it was eventually stopped, Wilson was found to be the driver."
Inquiries showed the number plates on the Mercedes had been stolen from a garage in Winterton.
The court heard Wilson had 16 previous convictions for 47 offences, including two other dwelling burglaries, and had never passed a driving test.
He had already spent 131 days in custody.
Wilson, admitted two charges of theft, burglary, driving with no insurance and careless driving, on March 24 last year.
Recorder David Mason QC warned Wilson that another house burglary on his record would lead to a very long sentence.
He told him: "Burgling somebody's house at night, particularly in a secluded area, is obviously a very serious matter.
"The house was occupied, fortunately they did not realise they were being burgled at the time, but they soon realised when they got up the next morning."
Steven Freestone, mitigating, said Wilson had been a chronic drug addict at the time of the burglary but was now substance-free, including being off methadone.
Wilson was disqualified from driving for 12 months.
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