A CARJACKER who threatened a woman with a knife before stealing her Mazda and ramming it into vehicles on a major Bournemouth road could face an extended prison sentence.

Shaun Lee, of Owls Road in Boscombe, committed a string of crimes on Wednesday, March 22, just seven days after a judge deferred sentencing him for five thefts and a commercial burglary. He was also within the commission period of two suspended sentences at the time.

However, a court has heard he was "suicidal" when he robbed Sally Anstee of her "dream car", and slashed his neck with a knife when apprehended by police.

Stuart Ellacott, prosecuting at Bournemouth Crown Court, said Ms Anstee had been parked in Keswick Road at around 1.30pm with the roof of her convertible MX5 down.

As she started the vehicle, she saw a knife against the driver's side window.

Mr Ellacott said: "She heard a raised male voice say, 'Get out of the ******* car'.

"She turned to see what was in fact Mr Lee standing by the side of her car.

"She began to scream."

Lee ordered Ms Anstee to get out of her car once again. She refused and attempted to cling onto the steering wheel, but Lee opened her door and dragged her out onto the road, causing her to land on her back.

He then drove off at speed in the £6,500 Mazda, which Ms Anstee had bought herself for her 50th birthday in June 2016.

Lee stopped the car outside Iceland in Westbourne, where he snatched £180 from a till before driving off again.

Witness reported the engine revving and wheels spinning as he attempted to force his way through traffic. He collided with a van and then reversed the Mazda, "bouncing" off parked cars as he did so.

He then drove onto the Wessex Way, where he again attempted to force his way through traffic before hitting a Mercedes and a Ford Fiesta near County Gates.

Leaving the wreckage of the vehicle behind, Lee escaped on foot but was quickly tracked down in a nearby garden by police.

As officers approached him, he pulled a knife from his jacket and made "slashing motions".

He then cut his own neck, causing a wound that required medical assistance.

Police were able to use Pava spray on the defendant before restraining him.

A victim impact statement written by Ms Anstee was read aloud to the court by Mr Ellacott.

She said the Mazda was her "dream" car and she had been "crying all the time" since the robbery. She also struggles to leave her home and feels frightened to go out in public alone, she said.

Mitigating, Timothy Compton said Lee, 42, was "significantly depressed, suicidal and intoxicated" at the time of the offences.

"[His] behaviour was driven by a desire to end his life, and not simply for monetary gain or to obtain drugs for his own gratification," Mr Compton said.

When Mr Compton told Lee the sentence he should expect, the defendant said: "What does Sally [Anstee] want?", the barrister said.

Lee also "broke down in tears" after reading Ms Anstee's victim impact statement, it was heard.

The defendant admitted robbery, possessing a kitchen knife, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving without a licence, threatening two police officers with a knife in Pine Tree Glen, affray and failing to provide a specimen.

He also admitted two counts of theft.

However, Judge Brian Forster QC said he must consider the issue of dangerousness, which would require an extended sentence.

A new pre-sentence report has been requested, and Lee will return to the court in three weeks.