Dash-cam footage shows burglar leading police on high-speed chase through New Mills

James Chesterton, 27, was spotted by officers fleeing the scene of an attempted break-in at a Co-Op store on the evening of April 18 last year.

Cops immediately gave chase as he sped away from the shop and hurtled along residential roads in the town.

The Mercedes AMG was lost by officers on the ground before a police helicopter tracked the vehicle's movements to a cement works.

Chesterton then dumped his car and attempted to hide in one of the buildings oblivious to the fact he was being filmed by infa-red cameras from the skies.

Officers on the ground were directed to the location of the driver and Chesterton was found cowering in a shower block and arrested.

Detectives were then able to link the serial offender to a string of 21 crimes committed at shops, garages and care homes across north Derbyshire and Manchester.

Chesterton, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, went on to admit 12 offences including three thefts from motor vehicles, six burglaries and three attempted burglaries with intent.

He was jailed for five years at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court on January 15.

PC Sherry Kenyon, of Derbyshire Constabulary, said after the case: “James Chesterton’s offending was quite staggering.

“Over a period of months he, along with a number of accomplices, carried out burglaries in Matlock, Chapel en le Frith, Ashbourne, New Mills, Buxton, Darley Dale and Glossop.

“On the morning of 19 April his offending came to an end when, despite his best efforts to avoid being apprehended, he was caught and brought to justice.”

One of the thefts took place at Toton Sidings – one of the largest rail depots in the country - where Chesterton stole a number of tools.

Steve Hughes, Programme Director for Network Rail, said: “Equipment worth £1700 was stolen from the site, which impacted on the progress of work that our engineers were carrying out.

“Trespassing on the railway is always dangerous and illegal, and it can lead to fatal or life changing consequences.

"Theft and vandalism also causes disruption to services and delays for passengers.

“We would like to thank Derbyshire Constabulary for their hard work, which led to a successful prosecution, as well as our equipment being returned.

"We hope this deters others from trespassing on the railway.”