A prolific offender is facing a lengthy jail term after walking out of court following his 28th driving while disqualified conviction only to be re-arrested for burglary.

Ipswich Star: Julian EllisJulian Ellis

Julian Ellis, of Ascot Drive, Ipswich – who has now committed more than 200 offences – was immediately detained by police as he left South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court.

Minutes earlier the 50-year-old was given a four-month prison term, suspended for 18 months, which the district judge described as a “Sword of Damocles over his head”.

Ellis had pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified for the 28th time.

He was seen by police at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo in Drabbs Lane, Clopton, at around 2am on February 28. Police pursued the car but lost sight of it near a farm.

They found it just before 2.30am at Burts Hill, heading towards Culpho. It came to a stop after a police chase.

At the time Ellis was four years into a five-year driving ban for a previous driving while disqualified offence. He was given a 12-month prison sentence on that occasion.

Ellis’ solicitor Lyndon Davies asked Deputy District Judge Richard Hawgood not to jail him for his latest driving conviction as he was in employment and was married with a young son.

Judge Hawgood agreed to suspend a prison sentence for the sake of Ellis and his family, but told him: “You will be keeping your liberty. You took a blatant risk.

“With your record you should be aware of the consequences of doing that. You really do need this sort of Sword of Damocles over your head. Because you have got your life together I don’t want to wreck it.”

Despite his reprieve the digger driver ended up in custody overnight after being arrested as he left court. He was then charged with burglary at Aldeburgh Cinema and three thefts from Co-ops in Ipswich.

When he appeared before the town’s magistrates the following day Ellis pleaded guilty to all four offences and a further charge of failing to attend a follow-up assessment for a Class A drug test.

Prosecutor Colette Harper said Ellis had stolen £800 from the cinema after forcing the door of the safe during a break-in overnight on February 25.

Ellis left a torch at the scene with his fingerprints on it.

He also committed three small value thefts from Ipswich Co-ops during February.

Mrs Harper told the court Ellis had previous convictions for 196 offences.

These include offences of burglary.

Larissa Hutson, representing Ellis, made no bail application on her client’s behalf.

She said: “Mr Ellis accepts the inevitability of a custodial sentence.”

The case was sent to Ipswich Crown Court where Ellis is scheduled to appear on April 13.