A BURGLAR who crashed his victim's BMW after a high-speed chase through a Hampshire city centre has been jailed for two years.

Ian Hutchison, pictured, smashed the car into a bollard outside a pub crowded with lunchtime drinkers.

Sentencing, Judge Michael Bowes QC, said a police report stated that if the bollard had not been there, the car would have gone through the front window of Savannah in Winchester.

Winchester Crown Court heard that Hutchinson burgled a home in Dawn Gardens, Sleepers Hill, on January 17, after discovering French doors to the property were unlocked.

He stole four briefcases and three laptops before fleeing in his victim's BMW.

Hutchinson, 27, of no fixed abode, was spotted driving erratically through the city centre and pursued by officers.

They attempted to speak to him near the Brooks Shopping Centre but he sped off.

He continued up St George's Street, narrowly missing a pensioner crossing the road, and then lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a bollard outside Savannah in Jewry Street.

Hutchinson tried to flee the scene but was stopped by officers seconds later and arrested. The judge said a police report added that the vehicle was thought to have been travelling between 60mph and 70mph shortly before it crashed.

Robert Grey, mitigating, said Hutchinson deserved credit for pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity.

He said his client had been taking heroin since the age of 15 and that his offences were consistent with someone with a heavy drug habit. Mr Grey added he had been clean of drugs since February.

Bad record' In sentencing Hutchinson on counts of aggravated vehicle taking and burglary, the judge said: "Almost everything has been tried with you and on you go, taking no notice at all. Your record is very bad indeed.

"You have exhibited a complete disregard for the law, insurance and other people's safety.

"It was an appalling piece of driving and a miracle that no one was seriously injured or killed."

Hutchinson was given two 12-month sentences, to be served consecutively, and banned from driving for five years.