A BURGLAR, who escaped from the exercise yard at Hewell Prison, has been caught and re-jailed after a two-week crime spree.

Bilal Bashir, 27, from Alum Rock, Birmingham, was serving four years for burglary when he absconded from the Tardebigge jail in March last year.

Just four days later a black Audi S5 was stolen in a burglary at a house in Dorridge along with other valuables.

Three days after that, the Audi pulled up outside a home in Dorridge. As the home owner returned, three masked men dragged him out of his high performance Ferrari California and fled.

Police were called and the Audi was tracked minutes later on the M6, where the driver repeatedly rammed a police motorway patrol car as he tried to evade capture.

The driver abandoned the vehicle and made off on foot over the collector road.

Meanwhile the Ferrari was found abandoned off Garretts Green Lane and CCTV showed two men ripping the dashboard out in an attempt to locate the tracker.

All three men evaded police, but left behind a wealth of forensic evidence.

Detective Constable Darren Brown, from West Midlands Police CID, said: "Several witnesses came forward and we had detailed descriptions as well as discarded clothing and CCTV.

"The Ferrari was recovered but the damage caused was estimated to be £40,000."

Ledbury Reporter:

Bashir was arrested a few days later from a friend’s flat, while analysis of his mobile phone placed him at the scene of the crimes and linked to another phone in his possession.

The second phone contained pictures of the Ferrari in the days leading up to the theft, as well as Bashir flaunting a large amount of cash and a bottle of vodka - the day after escaping from Hewell.

Ledbury Reporter:

DC Brown added: "An orange glove found in the centre console matched one seen worn by the Audi driver and provided a DNA match to Bashir."

The amount of evidence ensured a guilty verdict after a five-day trial at Birmingham Crown Court and Bashir was sentenced to three years for burglary, six years for the Ferrari theft and 12 months for dangerous driving, all to run consecutively.