A DRUGGED-UP burglar who wrote off a £20,000 Jaguar car and did £7,000 damage smashing it into a wall and gates while ‘off his head’ has been jailed for three years and four months.

Bobby Baker, 42, with a lengthy criminal record including robbery and housebreaking, stole from two addresses in Skipton overnight while the occupiers were asleep, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

Baker, of Highfield Terrace in the town, took the keys to the Jaguar from a home in Brook Street at 5am on August 4 after turning out cupboards and drawers, prosecutor Philip Adams said.

He tried to reverse the vehicle away but hit a wall, waking up the householder who went outside to see his car knock into wheelie bins and get wedged sideways, damaging a six foot high stone wall, gatepost and gates.

Baker, who had panicked and driven the car backwards and forwards, narrowly missed running into him, the court was told.

Neighbours were alerted to the commotion and one videoed Baker on their phone meaning he was later recognised by the police, Mr Adams said.

He left the scene after stealing the man’s wallet from the wrecked car.

The £20,000 Jaguar was a write-off and £7,000 damage was done to the wall, gatepost and gates.

Baker then went on to burgle a vulnerable disabled man the same morning. He stole the keys to his Mini Cooper from his flat and drove off in it. He was caught later that day at the wheel in Black Hill Lane, Keighley, with a woman passenger.

He made no comment when he was arrested and questioned by the police.

He pleaded guilty to two offences of dwelling house burglary, aggravated vehicle taking causing damage, theft, taking without consent and driving without insurance.

Baker had 17 previous convictions for 32 offences, including robbery, house burglary, taking without consent, assault, theft by employee, shop theft and making off without payment.

His barrister, Ismael Uddin, said he was extremely remorseful and very sorry. He had struggled with misuse of drugs from a young age and had ‘fallen off the wagon’ that day. He recalled little of the incidents, being incoherent and ‘off his head’ at the time.

He welcomed the prison sentence about to be imposed as the best opportunity to get off drugs and stay clean.

Judge Andrew Hatton jailed Baker for a total of 40 months and banned him from driving for two years on his release.

He said: “These are both serious and unpleasant dwelling house burglaries.”