A BOOZED-up driver who stole a car and caused an accident after speeding round Ipswich without his lights on is today behind bars.

A BOOZED-up driver who stole a car and caused an accident after speeding round Ipswich without his lights on is today behind bars.

Michael Knock, 22, went through three sets of red lights and was chased by police before the crash, which left two pensioners shocked and upset.

His passenger in the stolen car, 19-year-old Colin Weeding, was also drunk - putting him in breach of an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO).

The pair, who laughed in the dock as they were sentenced, are today beginning prison terms and have also been banned from the roads for three years.

Ipswich Crown Court heard how police officers had been contacted by members of the public at just before 9pm on January 15 after a car was spotted driving erratically in the Bramford Road area of Ipswich.

Police followed the car, which was being driven by Knock who had also stolen it, into the town centre, where it was travelling at speeds of up to 50mph.

When Knock realised the police were trying to catch him he switched off the headlights, even though it was dark.

A short while later the stolen vehicle collided with a car containing two senior citizens, at which point Knock and Weeding tried to flea the scene.

They were caught by police officers and Knock was found to have 74mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Weeding was also found to be drunk, putting him in breach of an ASBO banning him from being intoxicated in public.

Knock and Weeding, who both pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, smiled and joked with each other as the details of their crimes were read out in court.

Knock, of Kittiwake Close in Ipswich, also admitted failing to stop at an accident, drink driving, having no insurance or a proper licence and breaching a suspended sentence.

Weeding, of Orwell View Road, Shotley, pleaded guilty to breaching his ASBO.

Judge Neil McKittrick sentenced Knock to 14 months in jail for taking the vehicle and eight weeks for breeching his sentence, to run consecutively.

Weeding was sent to a Young Offenders Institute for 16 months in total.

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