Burglars were captured after police pursued stolen car (From St Helens Star)

Burglars were captured after police pursued stolen car

9:38am Monday 13th August 2012 in News

BURGLARS who were pursued by police after stealing a car following a house burglary have been locked up.

Ben Leyden, 22, and two teenagers stole the keys to a black VW Sharan car from a property in Girvan Crescent, Ashton in Makerfield in the early hours of Friday, March 2, 2012.

Liverpool Crown Court was told how the car was spotted by police patrols and then pursued by officers and the police helicopter.

The stolen car was eventually abandoned in Liverpool city centre and the three offenders were arrested nearby Leyden and the boys –aged 16 and 17 – were later charged burglary and aggravated vehicle taking.

Leyden, of Beaconsfield in Prescot, was jailed for three years, while the 17-year-old from Wavertree was handed a 12-month custodial sentence.

The 16-year-old male from Huyton received a 12-month supervision and curfew order.

Neither of the teenagers can be named for legal reasons.

Afterwards, Detective Sergeant Andy Milligan, from St Helens CID, said: "They were caught red-handed and are now paying the price for their crime.

"Merseyside Police takes burglaries very seriously and will act on all information we receive to ensure those responsible are brought to justice."