Thug stole Mercedes from Colchester car wash and sped at 100mph on A12

Daniel Stewart smashed a window of Mr Suds Car Wash in London Road, Stanway, before finding a set of keys to an £8,000 Mercedes which he then drove on the A12.

The incident, which took place on Monday, July 1 into the early hours of the following morning, meant police had to call out a helicopter to pursue Stewart, 21.

Court - Daniel Stewart appeared at Ipswich Crown Court via a video link from Chelmsford prison, but the case was adjourned (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Stewart injured a cyclist during the chase, which involved the defendant driving past Basildon on the A13 towards London.

Juliet Donovan, prosecuting, said: “That individual has not come forward and there aren’t any details of those injuries caused.

“He drives from Colchester, down the A12 towards Basildon and then on the A13.

“He is driving along there into London and drives through London over a sustained period of time.

“It’s clearly dangerous and the police helicopter gets involved and they follow him.

“The chase seems to have lasted 45 to 50 minutes.”

Ipswich Crown Court heard on Friday that when Stewart finally stopped the car, he refused to get out and provide a sample.

Mrs Donovan continued: “They go to the police station and he’s asked to provide a blood sample and he simply says no – it’s outright refusal.”

Stewart, of Hornchurch Road, Hornchurch, later admitted burglary, aggravated vehicle taking, theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving, failing to provide a specimen, driving without a licence, and driving without insurance.

Simeon Wallis, mitigating, admitted Stewart was facing a jail sentence for “an immensely unattractive series of offences."

He added: “He tells me he suffers from ADHD and depression and is a care leaver having been separated from his family at an early point in his life.”

Chase - Daniel Stewart then drove on the A12 and hit speeds of 100mph before driving on the A13 towards London (Image: National Highways)

Mr Wallis asked Recorder Jeremy Benson KC to adjourn the case for a pre-sentence report to be prepared, to which the judge agreed.

Stewart, who appeared from HMP Chelmsford via video link, then interrupted, claiming when officers arrested him they “kicked the window in and tried to drag me out of the car whilst I was still wearing my seatbelt.”

The judge waved away Stewart’s protests and told him he would be sentenced in October.