A MAN has been jailed for a car crime spree of 40 offences in only three months. Matthew Page, 24, who appeared from custody, was jailed for six months at South-East Suffolk Magistrates Court in Ipswich.

A MAN has been jailed for a car crime spree of 40 offences in only three months.

Matthew Page, 24, who appeared from custody, was jailed for six months at South-East Suffolk Magistrates Court in Ipswich.

He admitted numerous counts of driving while disqualified and driving without insurance, a licence or an MOT certificate.

Page also admitted obstructing a police officer, defrauding petrol stations and breaking a drug treatment order imposed on March 8.

Further offences of handling and using stolen cheques, for which Page was on licence, were also taken into consideration after he admitted breaking his drug treatment order.

Kate Stephenson, prosecuting, said: 'This is a long list of familiar matters and they all boil down to the same thing – he drives while disqualified, he drives without insurance and a licence."

Miss Stephenson said Page, of no fixed address, had gone into several service stations in Ipswich and claimed to have no money for fuel before filling in false details for payment.

Tim Ridyard, defending, said: 'It is not a very good record. He has spent a long time in custody and, clearly, something is going wrong.'

He said Page was unable to find a steady job because he suffered from diabetes.

Mr Ridyard said Page's spells in jail had trapped him a cycle of crime starting every time he was released.

He admitted his client had not been in the right frame of mind to attend his drug classes.

But he said Page was still keen to break his habit and appealed for a non-custodial sentence to be considered.

Magistrates said they had no alternative but to send Page to prison. He was also banned from driving for two years.