A127 joyrider had also raided jewellers (From Thurrock Gazette)

A127 joyrider had also raided jewellers

7:40am Friday 15th February 2013 in News

A THIEF, who was the passenger in a stolen car which reached speeds of up to 90mph during a high-speed police chase, has been jailed for two years.

Ryan Layzell, 22, of Bellmaine Avenue, Corringham, had borrowed the Renault Clio from a friend but, instead of returning it, he took the keys and went on a joyride with another pal.

Basildon Crown Court heard the pair got in the car on September 26 last year after swiping the keys as the girl slept.

They began speeding in the car along the A127 in Basildon, but they were spotted by police.

Officers signalled to them to pull over, but the pair ignored them and continued their joyride.

Police began pursuing the car and during the chase the duo reached speeds of up to 90mph, drove the car on the wrong side of the road, zigzagged and swerved across roundabouts and through residential streets.

They eventually dumped the car in an industrial estate in Corringham and ran off.

At the time of the incident, Layzell was already wanted by police over the theft of £800 worth of jewellery from a shop in St John’s Way, Corringham, in August 2012.

Mitigating Yvette Kresner told the court: “There were two CCTV cameras covering the whole shop so when he goes in and takes the jewellery, it was far from sophisticated. Being that the owners knew him, it was opportunist and foolish.”

Layzell – who previously served a year in a young offenders’ institution in 2010 – pleaded guilty to numerous offences including criminal damage, taking a vehicle without consent, theft and failing to surrender to custody.

Judge David Owen Jones said: “You get credit for your early plea of guilty, but bearing in mind you are 22 you have an appalling record.

“I accept you were not the driver, but were in the vehicle at the time. It was fortunate there wasn’t an accident.

“The jewellery store is an example of a snatch and grab and is exactly the same kind as an earlier occasion.

“Stores are entitled to sell their goods by showing items to their customers. Snatching this tray of jewellery, that has not been recovered, is a serious offence.”