SERIAL offender Dean Hallam was back behind bars today as he began a three-and-a-half-year sentence for his latest brush with the law.

Hallam, 35, had notched up 138 offences before he struck at the home of an engaged couple in Winchester and then rammed a police car in a desperate attempt to flee.

Both he and accomplice Anthony Ward were on parole at the time.

The pair forced their way into the St Cross flat which they ransacked, before stuffing a quilt and a pillowcase with hi-fi equipment, a computer and accessories, and a television amongst other items.

But they drew attention to themselves after Ward passed a beer can to Hallam as he drove a stolen car down the M27.

Hallam threw the empty can out of the window and his haphazard driving, which caused the vehicle to drift from lane to lane, so alarmed other motorists they called the police by mobile phone.

Southampton Crown Court heard that police tried to box the vehicle in but as the leading vehicle slowed to less than 20mph, Hallam accelerated and rammed it.

The manoeuvre caused hundreds of pounds' worth of damage to both vehicles and left the two occupants, PC Gary Keable and WPC Alyson Ford, with minor whiplash injuries.

Hallam drove off but lost control near the Emery Down turn-off on the A31 in the New Forest and crashed into a ditch.

Both men fled and Ward hid in undergrowth. When PC Nicholas Adams tried to extricate him, Ward tried to kick him in the face. The officer saw the blow coming but in trying to avoid it, cut his head on the bush. Both defendants appeared for sentence at Southampton Crown Court.

Hallam, of Barnard Street, Salisbury, had been convicted of burglary and aggravated vehicle-taking and had admitted two counts of common assault and driving while banned and without insurance. Hallam was also disqualified from driving for five years.

The court heard he had 63 previous convictions for theft-related offences and 12 for driving while banned.

Ward, 25, of Love Lane, Salisbury, admitted burglary, aggravated vehicle-taking and assault. Said to have committed 34 previous offences, he was jailed for 30 months and banned for 12 months.