A CAR thief whose early hours joyride ended in a high speed horror smash tried to ‘escape’ from the Royal Blackburn in only his hospital gown.

Lee Hadfield, 21, and an accomplice, who had been at the wheel of the £6,000 stolen Honda Civic, cheated death when the vehicle careered into six parked cars on Manchester Road, Burnley.

Hadfield and his friend had to be cut free from the " very mangled" Honda and an accident investigator concluded the vehicle had been clocking up at least 73 mph before the crash in a 30mph zone, the town's crown court heard.

Hadfield, who had been given a suspended jail term just days before, had been found almost in the passenger footwell of the Civic, with the driver on top of him and was said to have been saved by the quick-thinking actions of a police officer who gave him oxygen and first aid.

He was taken to hospital but was less seriously hurt than his associate, who suffered a broken pelvis and other injuries.

Several of the cars, including the Honda, were written off.

The hearing was told how the defendant then "escaped " from the Royal Blackburn in only his hospital gown and stole washing from a line to wear.

Hadfield, of Piccadilly Road, Burnley, had admitted burglary, aggravated vehicle taking and theft and had been committed for sentence by the town's magistrates.

Recorder Alan Conrad, QC, sentenced him to three years and activated the 16 week suspended term. The defendant was banned from driving for two years and must take an extended driving test.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said on April 14, Patricia Saville and her partner had gone to bed in their Burnley home.

At about half past midnight, one of their sons was returning home when he saw their Honda Civic being driven away and found they had been burgled.

Several police officers looking for the vehicle said it was being driven dangerously, at up to 100mph.

The prosecutor said the duo travelled up to Crown Point and then headed back towards Burnley, down Manchester Road. The driver hit several parked cars, causing them to cross the carriageway.

Hadfield had a record of 35 previous convictions. .

James Heyworth, for Hadfield, said: "He feels very lucky to be alive.”