A WIRRAL man returned to his life of crime just five months after being released from prison on licence, a court heard today.

Matthew Gill, 29, used a car stolen in a burglary to travel around shoplifting in Wirral and three months later was involved in a police chase while driving another stolen car on the peninsula.

Gill, who has since been recalled on licence, was today jailed for a total of 18 months and banned from driving for 21 months.

Neil Addison, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that a red Citroen car was stolen from a house in Bebington after burglars broke in and stole the keys.

A short time later the vehicle was in Gill's possession and twice had false registration plates, stolen from other red Citroens, cellotaped to it.

He used the car to travel to steal foodstuffs from Asda in Brombrough and twice from the Co-op store in Bebington, on one occasion stealing champagne.

He also made off without paying for petrol for the vehicle, said Mr Addison.

Gill, whose fingerprints were subsequently found on the false plates, was identified by police via automatic number plate recognition equipment.

On January 23, a house in Bebington was broken into by smashing a window and the keys for a Ford Focus stolen.

The police were told and two days later the car was spotted and pursued.

Gill ended up "trying to get through bollards but they were not wide enough and the car became trapped", said Mr Addison.

He made off from the scene in Mercer Road, Birkenhead, but was arrested on February 7.

When interviewed Gill, who was on licence from a 32-month sentence for similar offences, said he had been given the car keys by a friend and had not been involved in the burglaries.

He pleaded guilty to handling, aggravated vehicle taking, four thefts and driving without a licence and insurance.

Paul Davison, defending, said that Gill had had drug problems in the past and when his grandfather, who had brought him up from the age of two, suddenly died "he did not know how to deal with it and turned to drugs for solace".

After the first set of offences he got back on track and re-engaged with probation and remained offence free until January, he added.