A MAN who has never passed his driving test has been jailed for a total of 10 months after appearing in court for his 33rd offence of driving while disqualified.

A MAN who has never passed his driving test has been jailed for a total of 10 months after appearing in court for his 33rd offence of driving while disqualified.

Elijah Loveridge, 32, was stopped by police on the A14 after he stole a van from the driveway of a house in Ipswich, the town's crown court heard yesterday.

The owner of the van heard it being moved and gave chase in his car, said Peter Gair, prosecuting.

He followed the stolen van under the Orwell Bridge, along Bourne Hill and onto the A14 before police stopped the van at the junction with the A1120.

Loveridge was found in possession of two screwdrivers and a spanner and admitted using one of the screwdrivers to start the vehicle.

He told officers that he had stolen the van for a friend and would have been paid £200.

The court heard that Loveridge, of Latchingdon in Essex, had 32 previous convictions for driving while disqualified and 31 for theft-related offences including theft of vehicles and taking without consent.

Loveridge was committed to the Crown Court for sentence for theft of the van, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

Jailing him for a total of 10 months and banning him from driving for three years, Judge John Devaux said that from looking at Loveridge's record it seemed likely that he would only stop breaking the law if he became incapable of offending through incapacity or old age.

Simon Spence, for Loveridge, said his client had a long-standing problem with drink.

He said Loveridge had stolen the vehicle to order and it had been returned undamaged to its owner.