A VIGILANTE killer pursued a thief who stole his motorcycle, causing him to crash into a lamp post - and then left him to die on the roadside.

Mihai Dinisoae has been sentenced to 10 years behind bars following the the death of Joshua Molloy in Newcastle earlier this year.

Newcastle Crown Court was told Mr Molloy and an associate had stolen Dinisoae’s motorcycle from outside his home on Baldwin Avenue.

The 32-year-old was alerted to the theft and, instead of contacting police, got behind the wheel of his Vauxhall Vectra and made off in pursuit.

A high-speed chase took place through the streets of Newcastle on the morning of May 5 with Mr Molloy riding as the pillion passenger.

CCTV footage captured Dinisoae travelling at high speed, driving the wrong way round roundabouts and using his vehicle to repeatedly ram the motorcycle.

Eventually he smashed into the back of the bike, throwing his victims from the vehicle and leaving them to die on the road side.

Emergency services attended the scene but Mr Molloy was pronounced dead at the scene. The 29-year-old motorcycle driver was taken to hospital with serious injuries but survived the horror smash.

Dinisoae was arrested by police hours after the collision and admitted he had pursued the men. However, he claimed they had lost control and he did not cause the collision.

He was charged with murder but denied intentionally mowing down Mr Malloy and his case went to trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

Last month a jury found him not guilty on the charge of murder but now Dinisoae, of Baldwin Avenue, Newcastle, has pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

He had previously admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving in relation to injuries suffered by Mr Molloy’s associate at an earlier hearing.

Now Dinisoae has been handed a 10-year prison sentence after appearing at Newcastle Crown Court for his sentencing.

Detective Inspector Joanne Brooks, who led the investigation at Northumbria Police, condemned the actions of the killer.

She said: “I have no doubt that Mihai Dinisoae had completely lost control of his emotions and was intent on chasing down his victims.

“He made no attempts to alert authorities of the theft and instead tried to chase down the two men himself to get his hands on his property.

“The footage demonstrates just how mindless the actions of Dinisoae were that morning and he has ultimately led to Josh’s death.

“He has also caused the serious injury of another man and put the lives of other road users and members of the public at risk.

“Regardless of the circumstances leading up to Josh’s death, his family have been robbed of a loved one and I am glad that Dinisoae will now face a significant spell behind bars.

“No sentence will bring Josh back to his family but I hope that it provides them with some closure knowing this man will face his punishment in a court of law.”

As well as the sentence for manslaughter, Dinisoae was handed a 36 month custodial sentence for causing serious injury by dangerous driving but that will run alongside the manslaughter sentence.

He was also issued with a four-year driving ban that will begin upon his release from prison.