A PROLIFIC car thief - with more than 216 criminal convictions to his name - is back behind bars.

Kevin Christopher Melody, 35, of Cronshaw Street, Burnley, had been caught nearly 20 times having taken other people's cars, and been stopped on 30 occasions for driving while banned, Preston Crown Court heard.

In his latest offending spree he worked his way across Lancashire, from Rochdale to Sabden, the court was told.

Each time he struck police were easily able to identify him as the culprit due to forensic clues he had left in or near the vehicles in question.

Melody admitted two offences of taking a motor vehicle without consent, one charge of theft of a motor vehicle and three offences of driving while disqualified.

Judge Andrew Gilbart QC jailed him for 28 months and banned him from the roads for three years. He must also take an extended test before he can obtain a new driving licence.

Prosecutor Emma Keogh said the first of Melody's latest victims lived in Sabden.

A Ford Fiesta was taken from outside a property in the village on January 13 last year and was later found abandoned in Bacup.

Police recovered a cigarette butt from the vehicle - it was later forensically examined and found to contain Melody's DNA.

When another car, a T-registration Toyota was stolen from outside a home in Rochdale on February 8 it was later recovered in Rimmington.

DNA evidence was recovered from items left in the car, belonging to Melody.

The next day a silver Land Rover worth £10,500 was taken from outside business premises in Rimmington.

Near to where the off-road vehicle had been taken, a glove was found. DNA samples taken from the glove matched Melody's profile again.

Miss Keogh said the defendant had 54 separate previous convictions, covering 216 offences, mostly driving-related.

Philip Holden, defending, said his client had not been in custody for 18 months and had tried to turn his life around in recent months.

He had sought help for his drug addiction, which was the motive behind his offending, from the Tower Project in Burnley, he added .