A MAN who took a stolen car for a joy ride across the city causing more than £20,000 damage during a police chase has been jailed.

Liam Youngson, of Locks Court, Headington, had already admitted two counts of aggravated vehicle taking, one with dangerous driving and the other with damage to property.

Oxford Crown Court heard at his sentencing yesterday how the 22-year old had been at last year’s Cowley Road Carnival in July when he was handed a set of stolen car keys.

Youngson took the keys to the Mercedes C200 before he, together with another passenger, took the stolen car on a joy ride through the city.

Prosecutor Julian Lynch said that, following reports the car had been taken, police soon spotted it being driven in the Littlemore area.

He said that despite efforts to stop the vehicle, Youngson drove off at speed before hitting the side of the police car.

During his attempt to get away, the court heard, he went on to collide with an unmarked vehicle before bouncing off that and hitting a parked white Ford Transit, causing significant damage to both.

The total damage caused totalled about £22,500.

Youngson and his passenger then fled, the stolen car having been written off.

Police later tracked him down using DNA taken from the air bag which deployed during the crash.

In mitigation his defence team said that the incident was ‘a few minutes of madness’ and that Youngson was remorseful.

Sentencing Judge Zoe Smith jailed him for a total of 10 months and he was banned from driving for 23 months.