A 23-YEAR-old man who tried to escape from police after being spotted taking part in a "thieving expedition'' was jailed for 21 months yesterday.

Steven Knight, of Bevanlee Road, South Bank, near Middlesbrough, faced a theft charge and a string of motoring offences, including dangerous driving, when he appeared before Teesside Crown Court.

Richard Pursell, prosecuting, told the court that Knight and two others were spotted on a Middlesbrough industrial estate as they climbed a security fence before stealing drums of diesel, which they loaded into a van.

The theft was reported and police arrived at the scene just as Knight, who was driving the van, pulled away.

Mr Pursell described how the officers followed the van, which reached speeds of up to 70mph in a 50mph zone and at one point went the wrong side of a traffic bollard.

The van was pursued into a cul-de-sac where its two passengers ran off, along with Knight, who was caught by officers and arrested.

Mr Pursell said that after being disqualified from driving at an earlier hearing, Knight had also been stopped during police checks on three occasions, once for speeding, the second for driving without insurance and also for driving while disqualified.

Catherine Dunn, defending, said Knight had the prospect of a good job and was anxious to take up the employment opportunity but accepted that he faced a custodial sentence.

Judge Tony Briggs, sentencing Knight to a total of 21 months and disqualifying him from driving for three years, also ordered him to take an extended driving test on completion of the ban.

Judge Briggs told Knight that he had first taken part in a three-handed thieving expedition before then embarking on a course of dangerous driving which had placed others in danger.