A PROLIFIC burglar who travelled across the North-East to carry out high-value raids was yesterday locked up for ten years.

Keith Baker stole £40,000-worth of goods from two houses in Darlington to sell at markets and car boot sales.

He also struck in Middlesbrough and nearby Eaglescliffe during a three-month spree before he was caught after a car chase.

Baker, 46, fled after he was confronted at a house in Middlesbrough by owner Ghzanfar Ali.

He broke into the property as Mr Ali and his two young children slept, sneaked into their bedroom and shone a torch around.

After Mr Ali chased him from the house and tackled him in the street, Baker threatened to stab him before he drove off.

Passing milkman Mark Johnson gave chase and kept him in his sights until police arrived.

Baker sped on the wrong side of the road through rush-hour traffic on the outskirts of town and crashed into two vehicles.

The drama, on December 12, last year, was captured on police patrol car cameras and shown at Teesside Crown Court yesterday.

When Baker was charged and put on remand in prison, he confessed to other unsolved burglaries, including two in Darlington in which a total of £40,000-worth of items were taken.

Baker, of South Market Street, Hetton-le-Hole, Wearside, admitted the three burglaries and asked for four others to be taken into account.

He also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and assaulting Mr Ali when he lunged at him with a screwdriver.

The court heard that Baker had been released only a short while from an eight-year jail term for burglaries in North Yorkshire.

Chris Morrison, in mitigation, said Baker realised while on remand that he should try to make amends and admit the unsolved crimes.