Doncaster burglar who stole car and sped away from police jailed
Josh Mansfield was arrested 35 minutes after breaking into a home in January last year
A burglar who raided a stranger's home in Doncaster so he could steal their car has been jailed for three and a half years.
Josh Mansfield was arrested just 35 minutes after breaking into a home in Bessacarr during a '2-in-1 burglary' in January 2024.
The 25-year-old stole the keys for a BMW parked on the driveway before fleeing the scene, but his cover was blown just minutes later as a patrolling officer spotted him driving in an erratic manner.
Mansfield, who's got no fixed address, pleaded guilty to burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, driving a motor vehicle dangerously and driving while disqualified and without insurance.
Detective Inspector Mark Nicholson-Gee from South Yorkshire Police said:
"People deserve to feel safe in their homes and Mansfield's actions saw him destroy this idea of safety for his own personal gain.
"After breaking into this person's home and stealing their car, he then led police on a dangerous pursuit, driving the stolen vehicle at excessive speeds before colliding with a lamppost.
"He is fortunate no one was injured as a result of his reckless driving and thankfully due to the swift actions of my colleagues he was quickly arrested and has been brought to justice just a month after his crimes."
Footage of burglary and chase released
South Yorkshire Police have released this footage of their response to Josh Mansfield's burglary and the subsequent pursuit.