A ‘CAREER criminal’ currently serving a prison sentence for breaking into an elderly flood victim’s home has been hauled back to court for leading police on a dangerous car chase and crashing into a lamppost.

Shaun Kelly, of Beech Grove, Weaverham, appeared in Chester Crown Court on August 10 to be sentenced for crimes committed before he was imprisoned.

The 36-year-old led police on a car chase through Frodsham and Runcorn on November 17, 2020, driving a Vauxhall Zafira he knew had been taken without the owner’s consent.

Kelly then crashed the vehicle into a lamppost and damaged a garden fence panel to the value of £35 in Runcorn.

He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to dangerous driving, criminal damage of the fence, and aggravated vehicle taking in the context of knowing the car was stolen, and crashing it into a lamp post.

The court heard how Kelly’s dangerous driving led him along various roads, including the A557 Weston Point Expressway, Picow Farm Road, Westfield Road, Crofton Road, Holloway, Queens Road, Havergal Street, Balfour Street, Roland Avenue, Adela Road and Penn Lane.

Most recently, Kelly was jailed for 42 months at Liverpool Crown Court in April after breaking into an elderly woman’s home in Acton Bridge twice in January and February of this year.

The owner had been rehomed after her home was damaged during flooding and it was in the process of being renovated when Kelly struck.

At some point between January 7 and 14, Kelly broke into the home and the homeowner’s daughter noticed the bedroom wardrobe had been emptied out and there were jewellery boxes and other items on the floor, although she could not immediately identify what had been stolen.

When she returned to the house on February 5, Kelly had returned and, on this occasion, stole ornamental items including a clock, telescope, an antique cannon, and a samurai sword.

He was linked to the property via his DNA and when police searched the home of his partner, they found several of the stolen items.

Judge Neil Flewitt, QC, branded Kelly ‘a career criminal’ during this court appearance.

In Chester Crown Court, recorder Stephen Everett sentenced Kelly to 16 months in prison, to run alongside his existing sentence, with a 12-month mandatory driving ban for the dangerous driving, criminal damage and vehicle taking.