Prolific car thief jailed

10:59am Monday 8th September 2008

A PROLIFIC car thief has been jailed after crashing a stolen car while drunk.

Luke Esposito, of Glendower Road, Chingford, pleaded guilty to taking and driving away a vehicle without the consent of the owner, drink driving, driving while disqualified and breaching a suspended sentence.

The 21-year-old was jailed for a total of 14 months and banned from driving for two years.

Enfield police caught Esposito after he was seen running a red light in a stolen Vauxhall Corsa on July 18.

Esposito refused to stop after being flagged down by officers and was pursued before eventually crashing the car into a stationary vehicle in Edmonton.

Esposito tried to escape on foot but was eventually caught by officers.

The following day he was charged with aggravated taking and driving away of a vehicle, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, driving whilst disqualified, having no insurance and breaching a four-month suspended sentence.

PC Chris Ladmore, of Enfield police, said: “I am very pleased that Esposito has now been caught and sent to prison.

“He was one of our most active motor vehicle crime offenders and thought nothing of taking a car that did not belong to him or driving a vehicle whilst drunk.

“His actions endangered the lives of pedestrians and other road users and I hope this result demonstrates that we will pursue anyone who thinks that they can continue to break the law in this way.”