A convict who absconded from a jail and led police on a dangerous pursuit after breaking into a series of cars is back in jail.

Daniel Skillin, 24, left Ford Open Prison on June 30 while serving a five-year sentence for attempted robbery.

After making his way to the South West, he took a car in Exeter, Devon, and made off without paying for petrol in Tiverton.

He then broke into another car and drove to Cullompton before abandoning it; took a third car from Cullompton and was next spotted driving wildly by Avon and Somerset police officers on the outskirts of Taunton.

Skillin accelerated away from a police patrol car, went through a red light, drove on the wrong side of the road and went the wrong way down a one-way street. He stopped then drove into a dead-end and was arrested.

At Exeter Crown Court, Skillin's solicitor Nick Bradley was told by Recorder Leslie Blohm it was "pointless" asking the court to consider a sentence alternative to custody.

The judge said: "The aggravating features are the sequence of events, the nature of his driving and the fact this all occurred while he had absconded from prison. He also has an appalling record."

Skillin, formerly of Newport Street, Tiverton, admitted aggravated vehicle taking and driving without insurance.

He asked for another five offences to be taken into consideration. Two of taking vehicles without the owner's consent, two of driving without insurance and one of making off without payment.

The judge said he could not sentence Skillin until he was informed how much of his attempted robbery sentence was still to be served.

He adjourned the case until Friday. Skillin was remanded in custody.