A grinning, cocaine-fuelled thief who led police on a high-speed chase in a stolen Asda delivery van has been jailed for more than two years.
Thirty-year-old Shane Brett snatched the delivery vehicle from an Eastbourne warehouse in the early hours of January 30, sparking a high-stakes police response.
He then drove for around an hour – covering 16 miles – before he was stopped in Newhaven.
Footage shows officers bringing the van to a halt and arresting Brett.
A drug wipe was also conducted at the scene, with the driver testing positive for cocaine.
He was remanded into custody after admitting to charges of theft of a motor vehicle, burglary, dangerous driving and driving without insurance at Brighton Magistrates Court.
Earlier this month, at Lewes Crown Court, Brett, of no fixed address, was jailed for 26 months and disqualified from driving for four years.
A police statement said: ‘Shane Brett, 30, has been jailed for 26 months after he stole an Asda van in Eastbourne.
‘Police attended Sovereign Harbour Retail Park in Pevensey Bay Road, Eastbourne at around 6.20am on Friday 30 January following a report of a stolen Asda van.
‘Officers swiftly engaged in a tactical pursuit and successfully stopped the vehicle in The Fairway, Newhaven.
‘A drugs wipe was conducted at the scene and the 30-year-old tested positive for cocaine.
‘Brett was arrested, and the next day (31 January) charged with theft of a motor vehicle, burglary other than a dwelling, driving a motor vehicle dangerously, and driving a motor vehicle on a road or in a public place without third party insurance.
‘He appeared later the same day at Brighton Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to all charges and was remanded into custody.
‘On 12 March at Lewes Crown Court, Shane Brett, 30, of no fixed address, was jailed for 26 months and disqualified from driving for four years.’
