A man who stole a second hand car from a dealership’s forecourt in Melksham before taking police on a high speed chase has been jailed for 14 months.

Carlos Boente, 27, and another man pretended they wanted to buy the 2005 Vauxhall Corsa when they visited Auto Tech car sales in New Broughton Road on Monday, January 5.

But Boente sped away from the forecourt driving the red car with his accomplice in the passenger seat.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court today how sales manager Justin Friend got the keys to the vehicle to show the two men who had turned up shortly before 5.30pm.

She said they had wanted to hear the engine so started the vehicle before pushing Mr Friend out of the way, something they deny, and driving off.

The police were called straight away and about a quarter of an hour later an officer spotted it on the A350 at the Stoney Gutter crossroads near West Ashton.

She said the officer started to give chase but realised the car was being driven so dangerously he decided to end the pursuit.

The Corsa was being driven at speed and overtaking on double white lines in the face of oncoming traffic.

Miss Squire said the car was then spotted at the Granada service station on the A36 near Warminster going the wrong way round a one way system.

She said the passenger was seen to jump from the vehicle and it was later found to be Boente, who had passed over responsibility for driving to the other man.

The chase then continued and with the help of the force helicopter the car was found dumped at a spot known as Biss Bottom, near Upton Scudamore.

Boente, of Feltham Drive, Frome, Somerset, pleaded guilty to one charge of aggravated vehicle taking.

Edward Boyce, defending, said hic client had a poor history and had been released from custody in early November for a similar matter.

Boente had been responsible for the first piece of driving, he said, but the men changed over in Westbury.

He said that his client had a four-year-old daughter and was aware that it was time for him to grow up and stop the offending.

Judge Douglas Field said: “The only mitigation that I can seriously take account of is you early plea of guilty.

“You know you have a terrible record and you know I have got to pass a custodial sentence.”

He also banned him from the road for a year and ordered he take an extended retest before he gets his licence back.

The other man allegedly involved in the incident, Michael Batten, 23, from Field Close, Westbury, will be dealt with at a later date.