A burglar from Stevenage who led police on a chase through Hitchin and Letchworth on Sunday night has today pleaded guilty to 13 offences – and is set to be sentenced by a crown court judge next month.

Daniel Laverty, of no fixed abode in Stevenage, was arrested late on Sunday evening after police on routine patrol spotted him driving a car believed be stolen in Hitchin’s Cambridge Road at 11.10pm.

Police approached the vehicle, prompting 31-year-old Laverty to drive off at speed and blaze through a red light towards Letchworth.

Officers followed in pursuit, and eventually brought him to a halt in the residential street Bursland – where Laverty was arrested.

Following further investigations by the North Herts local crime unit, officers yesterday charged Laverty with drink-driving, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving while disqualified, failing to stop for police and criminal damage – as well as six counts of shoplifting in Hitchin and Letchworth in late July, and burgling a home in Letchworth during August.

Laverty pleaded guilty to all counts when he appeared at Hatfield Remand Court today. He has been remanded into custody and is set to appear for sentence at St Albans Crown Court on October 6.