A MAN stole two cars, rammed a police car and then tried to escape by “garden hopping” in a spree of vehicle crimes.

David Eric Noel, 24, of Ringwood Road, Poole, was jailed days before Christmas after pleading guilty to stealing a Range Rover, stealing from a different car, two counts of interfering with a vehicle, one count of aggravated vehicle taking, failing to provide a specimen for analysis and driving while disqualified.

He was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday, December 23.

Prosecuting, Stuart Ellacott said the offences all occurred in August of this year.

He said: “The first in time, the victim had parked her blue Volkswagen Polo on her driveway on August 1 in Hennings Park Road.

“She returned and noted an umbrella leant against it.

“When she got in there was an auxiliary cable charging her phone missing.

“CCTV footage showed the defendant wearing a face mask seen to enter the car.”

On August 13, the defendant was in Churchfield Road trying car door handles.

Three days later, a white Range Rover was parked in Stalbridge Road with the keys in the centre console.

The owner was contacted by a friend to say her car was no longer on the driveway.

On August 27, officers saw a blue Peugeot in Doulton Gardens which had been reported stolen.

Noel drove the vehicle into a dead end then rammed the police vehicles trying to get him to stop.

Police then took action to stop the defendant, who got out and was seen “garden hopping” to flee.

He was arrested and then refused to provide a sample for analysis, Mr Ellacott told the court.

Noel had 55 previous convictions from 130 offences, including matters of theft and shoplifting.

Mitigating, Kevin Hill told the court the defendant was suffering from mental health issues.

Judge Brian Forster QC sentenced Noel to ten months for the aggravated vehicle taking and six months for the theft of a vehicle, to be served consecutively making 16 months.

He was also given one month for the theft from a car, and one month for each vehicle interference, one month for the failing to provide a specimen and three months for driving while disqualified.