A MOTORING menace who has been taking cars since his schooldays is today starting his first sentence in an adult prison.

Christopher Hope, 19, was jailed for a total of 27 months for a string of car crimes and house burglaries across Stockton in January.

The teenager tearaway promised in a letter to a Teesside Crown Court judge that he would to put his law-breaking past behind him.

His barrister, Duncan McReddie, said Hope wanted to "make a clean breast of things" for the good of his recently-born child.

As well as admitting the offence for which he was caught by police, he confessed to a further nine unsolved thefts and burglaries.

Judge George Moorhouse said he had no option but to lock up Hope, but told him: "Try and do what you say in your letter."

The court heard yesterday that his latest crime spree started in the early hours of January 4 at a house in Kilburn Road.

Hope had broken into the house but was disturbed trying to steal a BMW from outside and fled - before falling over in the snow.

Police arrested him a short time later and after being questioned and granted bail, within a day the teenager was up to his old tricks.

He broke into a house in Eleanor Place and stole the keys to a Renault Laguna which ended up being chased by police across town.

Hope went through two red lights and broke the speed limit before the car was stopped by police using a Stinger puncture device.

Hope, of Grove Street, Stockton, admitted two burglaries, attempted theft, aggravated vehicle taking and driving while disqualified.

The court heard he has 53 offences on his record - mostly for taking cars and dangerous driving - going back to when he was 15.

Mr McReddie said Hope's willingness to accept responsibility for the other nine crimes showed he wanted to make a fresh start.